Sesame Honey Chicken with Garlic Spinach

A nice tasty light meal!

     Note:  Be sure to cook 1 portion of plain jasmine rice ahead of time!

     

     Sesame Honey Chicken Recipe:  

     Slice 4 thin wide chicken breast strips that weigh about 1 1/2 ounces to 2 ounces apiece.

     Whisk 1 egg with 2 teaspoons of corn starch in a mixing bowl to make a thin batter.
     Dredge the chicken strips in flour.
     Dip the chicken in the batter.
     Heat a saute pan over medium heat.
     Add 1 generous splash of vegetable oil.
     Pan fry the egg battered chicken pieces.
     Cook both sides of the chicken pieces, till they become golden brown.
     Set the chicken pieces aside.
     Drain the oil out of the hot pan.
     Return the pan to medium low heat.
     Add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.
     Add 1 clove of minced garlic.
     Add 1 teaspoon of minced ginger.
     When the garlic and ginger become fragrant after about 10 to 15 seconds, add 1 cup of water.
     Add 1 tablespoon of thin soy sauce.
     Add 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar.
     Add sea salt and white pepper.
     Add 1 pinch of five spice powder.
     Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to form a slurry.
     Add a little bit of the corn starch and water slurry at a time, while stirring to thicken the sauce to a thin sauce consistency.
     Add 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds.
     Add 1 teaspoon of black sesame seeds.
     Add 2 tablespoons of honey.
     Return the chicken to the sauce.
     Reduce the temperature to low heat.
     Gently simmer and reduce the sauce, till the sauce becomes a medium thin glaze consistency.
     Keep the chicken warm over very low heat.
    
     Garlic Spinach: 
     Heat a saute pan over medium heat.
     Add 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
     Add 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil.
     Add 2 cloves of minced garlic.
     When the garlic turns a golden color, add 1 large handful of fresh baby spinach leaves.
     Add sea salt and white pepper.
     Stir till the spinach becomes wilted.
     Remove the spinach from the pan and set it aside.
     Keep the wilted garlic spinach warm on a stove top.
    
     Sesame Honey Chicken with Garlic Spinach: 
     Use a ring mold to place 1 small portion of rice on the center of a plate.
     Place the wilted spinach on the plate around the rice.
     Lean the sesame honey chicken strips against the rice's edge and on the spinach.
     Spoon a little bit of the sesame honey sauce over the chicken pieces.
     Sprinkle some thin sliced green onions over the center of the rice.
   
     The flavors of this recipe go well together.  The sweet honey sesame chicken flavor and garlic spinach are a nice combination of flavor!  This is a very nice light entree.  Tasty and healthy!  Yum!  ...  Shawna