Sesame chicken
| Sesame chicken | |||||||||||||||||
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Chinese sesame chicken | |||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 芝麻雞 | ||||||||||||||||
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Sesame chicken is a dish commonly found in Chinese restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. The dish is similar to General Tso's chicken but the taste of the Chinese-based chicken is not spicy.[1]
Description
The dish involves chicken pieces (usually from the thighs) that are de-boned, battered and Chinese deep-fried, then dressed with a translucent, reddish-brown, semi-thick, somewhat sweet sauce made from corn starch, vinegar, wine or sake, chicken broth and sugar, the last of which is a major contributor to sesame chicken's relative sweetness.[2][3] After these preparations, the unfinished dish is topped with small sesame seeds, which may or may not be toasted, hence the name sesame chicken. It is sometimes, but not always, served with vegetables such as broccoli and baby corn.
Variations
Sesame shrimp is also a popular variation of sesame chicken, in which shrimp is substituted for chicken. Preparation of this dish is the same, with the exception of the degree and length of heating of the meat. Some restaurants serve sesame tofu. [4] [5]
Another potential difference is that chopped almonds may be substituted for the sesame seeds, hence the name almond shrimp.
See also
References
- ^ "Steps using Rice Flour. Archived 2010-10-17 at the Wayback Machine" Recipe Steps.
- ^ Lo, Eileen Yin-Fei (2015). Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking. Chronicle Books. p. 284. ISBN 9781452133898.
- ^ Chen, Hsiang Ju Lin (2012). Chop Suey, USA: The Story of Chinese Food in America. Columbia University Press. pp. 173–175. ISBN 9780231145435.
- ^ Anderson, Eleanor (2004). The Complete Asian Cookbook. Chronicle Books. p. 152. ISBN 9780811827713.
- ^ Phillips, Darcy. "Sesame Chicken and Its Variations". The Spruce Eats. Retrieved 2025-12-17.