Recipe: Pan-Fried Sesame Chicken with Lemon Sauce

PAN-FRIED SESAME CHICKEN WITH LEMON SAUCE

Chicken breasts are lightly breaded and then pan-fried to reduce the calories in classic lemon chicken. While it may be tempting to reduce the sugar in the sauce, remember that sugar accentuates the tartness of lemon.

FOR THE SAUCE:
1/4 cup Chicken broth
6 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons Sugar
2 teaspoons Grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons Plum sauce
FOR THE BREADING:
3/4 cup All-purpose flour
2 Eggs, beaten
1/2 cup White sesame seeds
2 teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Ground white pepper
FOR THE CHICKEN:
4 Boneless skinless chicken breast halves
6 tablespoons Peanut oil
TO FINISH THE SAUCE:
1 teaspoon Minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon Minced garlic
1 tablespoon Cornstarch, mixed with
1 1/2 tablespoons Water
Sliced scallions for garnish, optional

TO PREPARE THE SAUCE:
Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and reserve.

TO PREPARE THE BREADING:
Place 1/4 cup of the flour in a large shallow bowl or plate. In another bowl, beat eggs, and in a third, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of flour with sesame seeds and salt and pepper. Arrange these next to each other on a counter.

TO PREPARE THE CHICKEN:
Wash the chicken breasts and trim any excess fat. Pound with a mallet or rolling pin to 1/4-inch thickness. Then dip, one at a time, first in the flour. Pat off any excess and dip in the egg. Lift the meat, allowing excess egg to drain back into bowl, and then dip and coat with the flour and sesame-seed batter. Reserve on a platter.

Heat 4 tablespoons of the peanut oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken breasts, two at a time, until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Reduce heat to medium if the chicken is browning too quickly.) Reserve on a platter.

TO FINISH THE SAUCE:
While the last batch is finishing, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Saute the ginger and garlic until their aroma is released and then pour in the sauce. When it comes to a boil, reduce to lowest heat. Drizzle in the cornstarch mixture while stirring constantly, and remove from heat as soon as the sauce thickens.

TO SERVE:
Slice each chicken breast into 1/2-inch strips along the width and place on dinner plates. Spoon on the sauce and garnish with scallions.

Servings: 4
Source: Chinese Cooking For Beginners: More Than 65 Recipes for the Eager Cook by Helene Siegel