Hi everyone! This is recipe adding to our series on Chinese American food hacks, reproducing the Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken. I had a lot of fun dialing in the elements that make up Panda Express’ signature Honey Sesame Chicken dish, then taking a second shot at my own version which experiments with some ingredients that are pretty commonly found in Chinese cuisine, but a little less common in Chinese American cuisine. Hope you try it!

 

serves 2-3

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 cloves garlic

  • 1 tbsp ginger (about 1 inch)

  • 1 red bell pepper

  • 4 oz green beans

  • 8 oz chicken breast

  • 1/4 cup flour

  • 1/4 cup corn starch

  • 1 egg

  • kosher salt

  • pepper

  • sesame seeds

  • vegetable oil

INGREDIENTS (sauce)

  • 1/2 cup honey

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 4 tbsp soy sauce

  • 4 tbsp sesame oil

  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar

  • 2 tbsp corn starch

  • water

PREP

  • MINCE ginger and crush/mince the garlic, then set aside

  • LARGE DICE the red bell pepper, then set aside

  • BLANCH the green beans in boiled water for 5 minutes, then immediately rinse in cold water, then set aside

  • LARGE DICE the chicken breast into 1/2 inch pieces, then set aside

  • COMBINE the flour, corn starch, a pinch of kosher salt and pepper, then set aside

  • WHISK one egg, then set aside

  • COAT each piece of chicken in egg, then the dried batter mix, then set aside

  • COMBINE all sauce ingredients except for the corn starch and water

  • IN A SEPARATE BOWL, combine the corn starch with equal parts water into a slurry, and mix until no lumps remain

ON THE STOVE

  • HEAT 12 oz of vegetable oil in a wok to 350F, then add the chicken about 10 pieces at a time. Fry for 1-2 minutes until lightly browned, then remove and chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes

  • RETURN the chilled chicken to the frier again for a second fry for another 3-5 minutes until golden brown

  • REMOVE all but 4 tbsp of vegetable oil from the wok, and reheat the wok as hot as possible

  • ADD the ginger and garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds), then add the bell pepper and green beans. Toss to combine for 1-2 minutes

  • ADD the chicken, sauce, and corn starch slurry and toss to combine, 1-2 minutes

  • REMOVE from heat and finish with sesame seeds

 

tagged with woo can cook, panda express, honey sesame chicken, chinese american food hack, double fry