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