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Dad's Sesame Chicken, Perfected Over 61 Years

芝麻雞
Prep: 20 minCook: 25 minTotal: 45 minServes: 4

Ingredients

3 ozred bell pepper
1 smallred chili pepper
3 clovegarlic
3 smalldried chili pepper
1 ozwhite sesame seeds
3 cupscorn oil
Frying Batter Ingredients
4 tbspall-purpose flour
3 tbspcornstarch
2 tspbaking powder
0.50 tspsalt
6.5 tbspwater
1 largeegg
1 tspoil
Chicken Marinade Ingredients
12 ozchicken breast
1 tbspcornstarch
0.25 tspsalt
1 tspchicken bouillon powder
1 tspwhite pepper
1 tbspoyster sauce
1 tbspwater
Sauce Ingredients
1 tbsplight soy sauce
1 tbspoyster sauce
0.50 tspdark soy sauce
2 tbsprice vinegar
3 tbspsugar
3 tbspwater
1 tspoil
1 tspsesame oil
Slurry Ingredients
1 tsppotato starch
3 tbspwater
Broccoli Ingredients
4 cupswater
1 tspoil
1 tspsalt
6 ozbroccoli

Instructions

1
Prepare veggies & aromatics

Slice off 1/5 of a large red bell pepper (3 oz) (use the remainder to make our other recipes, such as Sweet and Sour Pork or Rainbow Chicken Stir Fry!). Lay the pepper flat cut-side-down on the cutting board and with the shorter side facing your knife, slice into thin strips.

Cut off the stem off the red chili pepper (1 small) and slice it in half. Remove the pith and seeds from inside the pepper. Then with the pepper laying flat cut-side-down, slice into thin strips.

Chef's Tip: Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling spicy peppers and keep away from delicate body parts, such as your eyes!

Smash and peel the garlic (3 clove). Trim and discard the ends. Smash again, then ince.

Cut the stems off of the dried chili peppers (3 small).

2
Make batter

In a medium bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour (4 tbsp) and cornstarch (3 tbsp). Add the baking powder (2 tsp) and salt (0.50 tsp) and stir to combine.

Add the water (6.5 tbsp). Do this slowly and gradually a few tablespoons at a time, then stir to combine. Add a bit more and mix again, until all of the water has been added to the batter. The batter should be loose, but not too thin.

Crack and beat the egg (1 large), adding half of it to the batter. Reserve the rest of the egg for later use.

Finally, add the oil (1 tsp) and mix thoroughly to combine.

3
Prep & marinade chicken

Cut the chicken breast (12 oz) into smaller pieces, approximately 1-inch thick by splitting it open horizontally. Next, cut these pieces in half, then into roughly 1-inch thick strips. Rotate, then cut into cubes.

Place the chicken in a large bowl and move the pieces to one side. On the other side of the same bowl, add the cornstarch (1 tbsp), salt (0.25 tsp), chicken bouillon powder (1 tsp), white pepper (1 tsp), oyster sauce (1 tbsp) and water (1 tbsp). Mix the chicken and marinade ingredients together thoroughly.

Chef's Tip: My dad prefers to mix in the marinade ingredients by hand since this allows him to thoroughly massage them into the chicken .

Add half of the reserved beaten egg into the chicken (so you use 0.25 of the large egg).

4
Make sauce

In a small bowl, combine the light soy sauce (1 tbsp), oyster sauce (1 tbsp), dark soy sauce (0.50 tsp), rice vinegar (2 tbsp), sugar (3 tbsp) and water (3 tbsp) and mix thoroughly.

Taste the sauce and adjust to your preference. It should be a balance of sweet and sour.

Make slurry

In another small bowl, combine the potato starch (1 tsp) and water (3 tbsp) and stir to combine. Set aside.

5
Blanch broccoli

Bring the water (4 cups) to a boil. Add the oil (1 tsp) and salt (1 tsp).

Add broccoli, lower the heat and cook for 30 to 40 seconds. Remove from pot and place in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. This will help the broccoli maintain its vivid green color.

6
Toast sesame seeds

Heat up a wok to 200°F. Pour in the white sesame seeds (1 oz) and lower the heat. Stir around constantly using a spatula . After 30 seconds, turn off the heat and stir for another 30 seconds. Once the seeds are golden brown, transfer to a plate or bowl and set aside.

Chef's Tip: When toasting sesame seeds, make sure your wok isn't overly hot or they'll burn and become bitter.

7
Fry chicken

Return the wok to the stovetop and heat on high. Add the corn oil (3 cups) to the wok and heat to 325°F.

As we wait for the wok to heat up, pour the batter into the marinated chicken and mix to combine. Make sure every piece is coated thoroughly.

Once the oil reaches 325°F, lower the heat slightly to make sure the chicken doesn't burn.

(Chef's Tip: To check if the oil is hot enough without a thermometer, follow my dad's trick. Dip a wooden chopstick into the oil and if small bubbles start coming out of the end, you're good to go!)

Add the chicken into the hot oil one piece at a time. Drop them in gently close to the oil and not from high above, which will cause the oil to splash. Once the wok is full, set aside the remaining chicken for a second batch.

After 1.5 minutes, stir the chicken around to ensure they don't stick together (Don't be tempted to do this sooner or else the crust may fall off!). After 1 more minute (for a total frying time of 2.5 minutes), remove the pieces from the wok. Set aside. Repeat the frying with the remaining batch of chicken.

Now it's time to fry the chicken a second time. This not only forces the oil out of the chicken so it's less greasy, but also adds to the crispiness. Increase the heat and bring the oil to 370°F. Again, working one batch at a time, fry the chicken for 40 to 50 seconds, then set aside. Make sure to bring the oil back up to 370°F before frying the second batch.

Turn off the heat, pour out the hot oil in a heat-resistant bowl and wipe down the wok if reusing.

8
Cook sauce

Add oil (1 tsp) to the wok (you can reuse frying oil if you'd like) and heat on medium for 10 to 20 seconds.

Add the minced garlic and dried chili peppers, stir frying for 30 to 40 seconds until aromatic.

Pour in the sauce and stir constantly for 30 to 40 seconds. Taste and adjust if needed.

Turn heat to low, give the slurry a quick stir and add slowly a bit at a time, while constantly mixing the sauce. Cook for about 1 minute. Check consistency, adding more slurry or water if needed to thin or thicken consistency. Turn the heat off, add the sesame oil (1 tsp) and mix.

9
Mix in ingredients

With the heat off, add the fried chicken, bell peppers, red chili pepper and mix well. Sprinkle in a bit of the sesame seeds and mix them in, then add some more on top, saving some for garnish.

10
Plate & garnish

Transfer the sesame chicken to a large plate. Sprinkle the reserved toasted sesame seeds on top. Place broccoli on the side of the plate and serve!

Recipe by Daddy Lau · 2× James Beard Award Winner · madewithlau.com

Dad's Sesame Chicken, Perfected Over 61 Years

芝麻雞
▶ 271.3K views on YouTube
👍 6.7K likes
Prep
20 min
Cook
25 min
Total
45 min
Serves
4
Daddy Lau
By Daddy Lau · 2x James Beard Awards · 60+ years
Published Aug 2023 · Updated Nov 2024

Why this recipe

The story
Sesame Chicken (芝麻雞) — Daddy Lau
Daddy Lau

Most sesame chicken recipes online are tested only a handful of times. My dad used to make this dish multiple times a day, every day, for 60+ years and can make this in his sleep.

I know you'll love it as much as our community does! This recipe has over 271.3K views, 6.7K likes on YouTube.

Sesame chicken was one of the top dishes at my parents restaurant alongside other Chinese classics like General Tso's chicken, lemon chicken and orange chicken. It has a nutty sesame aroma, sticky sauce and crunchy chicken that all go together nicely.

Today, we're finally sharing my dad's sesame chicken recipe and his tips for recreating the sweet, sour and spicy dish at home. Watch our video to see how he manages to make each piece of chicken crispy without sacrificing its juicy bite.

What is sesame chicken?

Sesame chicken is found on nearly early Chinese restaurant menu. The takeout favorite is made by battering and frying chicken pieces, then tossing them all in a sesame chicken sauce.

Every recipe will differ slightly, but the sauce generally includes umami components such as soy sauce and oyster sauce, a sweetener like sugar or honey and a spicy element (my dad uses a combination of fresh red chili pepper and dried chili peppers).

Sesame chicken vs General Tso

Both sesame chicken and General Tso's chicken are popular Chinese chicken entrees that feature fried chicken stir fried in a sticky sauce. There are slight differences between the two. Sesame chicken features toasted sesame seeds and is milder when it comes to spice. General Tso's chicken has a stronger kick and sweeter flavor thanks to the addition of ketchup in the sauce.

An expert chef's tip for the crispiest, juiciest sesame chicken

If you've been wondering how to make sesame chicken that's crispy and juicy at the same time, you're in the right place! The key to the best fried chicken is two-fold. First, you need a batter that will help achieve a light and crunchy crust (more details on that below). Next, you need the right cooking technique. My dad uses the double frying method to get the perfect texture.

Ingredients

Serves4
Main Ingredients
3 ozred bell pepper
1 smallred chili pepper
3 clovegarlic
3 smalldried chili pepper
1 ozwhite sesame seeds
3 cupscorn oil
Frying Batter Ingredients
4 tbspall-purpose flour
3 tbspcornstarch
2 tspbaking powder
0.50 tspsalt
6.5 tbspwater
1 largeegg
1 tspoil
Chicken Marinade Ingredients
12 ozchicken breast
1 tbspcornstarch
0.25 tspsalt
1 tspchicken bouillon powder
1 tspwhite pepper
1 tbspoyster sauce
1 tbspwater
Sauce Ingredients
1 tbsplight soy sauce
1 tbspoyster sauce
0.50 tspdark soy sauce
2 tbsprice vinegar
3 tbspsugar
3 tbspwater
1 tspoil
1 tspsesame oil
Slurry Ingredients
1 tsppotato starch
3 tbspwater
Broccoli Ingredients
4 cupswater
1 tspoil
1 tspsalt
6 ozbroccoli
Understanding Flavor
FUNDAMENTALS
Understanding Flavor
Dive Deeper →

Instructions

10 steps · click any step to scrub ↑
1

Prepare veggies & aromatics

scroll to play this step

Slice off 1/5 of a large red bell pepper (3 oz) (use the remainder to make our other recipes, such as Sweet and Sour Pork or Rainbow Chicken Stir Fry!). Lay the pepper flat cut-side-down on the cutting board and with the shorter side facing your knife, slice into thin strips.

Cut off the stem off the red chili pepper (1 small) and slice it in half. Remove the pith and seeds from inside the pepper. Then with the pepper laying flat cut-side-down, slice into thin strips.

Chef's Tip: Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling spicy peppers and keep away from delicate body parts, such as your eyes!

Smash and peel the garlic (3 clove). Trim and discard the ends. Smash again, then ince.

Cut the stems off of the dried chili peppers (3 small).

The 10 Essential Cutting Techniques
LESSON 3.3
The 10 Essential Cutting Techniques
Dive Deeper →
2

Make batter

scroll to play this step

In a medium bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour (4 tbsp) and cornstarch (3 tbsp). Add the baking powder (2 tsp) and salt (0.50 tsp) and stir to combine.

Add the water (6.5 tbsp). Do this slowly and gradually a few tablespoons at a time, then stir to combine. Add a bit more and mix again, until all of the water has been added to the batter. The batter should be loose, but not too thin.

Crack and beat the egg (1 large), adding half of it to the batter. Reserve the rest of the egg for later use.

Finally, add the oil (1 tsp) and mix thoroughly to combine.

3

Prep & marinade chicken

scroll to play this step

Cut the chicken breast (12 oz) into smaller pieces, approximately 1-inch thick by splitting it open horizontally. Next, cut these pieces in half, then into roughly 1-inch thick strips. Rotate, then cut into cubes.

Place the chicken in a large bowl and move the pieces to one side. On the other side of the same bowl, add the cornstarch (1 tbsp), salt (0.25 tsp), chicken bouillon powder (1 tsp), white pepper (1 tsp), oyster sauce (1 tbsp) and water (1 tbsp). Mix the chicken and marinade ingredients together thoroughly.

Chef's Tip: My dad prefers to mix in the marinade ingredients by hand since this allows him to thoroughly massage them into the chicken .

Add half of the reserved beaten egg into the chicken (so you use 0.25 of the large egg).

4

Make sauce

scroll to play this step

In a small bowl, combine the light soy sauce (1 tbsp), oyster sauce (1 tbsp), dark soy sauce (0.50 tsp), rice vinegar (2 tbsp), sugar (3 tbsp) and water (3 tbsp) and mix thoroughly.

Taste the sauce and adjust to your preference. It should be a balance of sweet and sour.

Make slurry

In another small bowl, combine the potato starch (1 tsp) and water (3 tbsp) and stir to combine. Set aside.

5

Blanch broccoli

scroll to play this step

Bring the water (4 cups) to a boil. Add the oil (1 tsp) and salt (1 tsp).

Add broccoli, lower the heat and cook for 30 to 40 seconds. Remove from pot and place in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. This will help the broccoli maintain its vivid green color.

6

Toast sesame seeds

scroll to play this step

Heat up a wok to 200°F. Pour in the white sesame seeds (1 oz) and lower the heat. Stir around constantly using a spatula . After 30 seconds, turn off the heat and stir for another 30 seconds. Once the seeds are golden brown, transfer to a plate or bowl and set aside.

Chef's Tip: When toasting sesame seeds, make sure your wok isn't overly hot or they'll burn and become bitter.

7

Fry chicken

scroll to play this step

Return the wok to the stovetop and heat on high. Add the corn oil (3 cups) to the wok and heat to 325°F.

As we wait for the wok to heat up, pour the batter into the marinated chicken and mix to combine. Make sure every piece is coated thoroughly.

Once the oil reaches 325°F, lower the heat slightly to make sure the chicken doesn't burn.

(Chef's Tip: To check if the oil is hot enough without a thermometer, follow my dad's trick. Dip a wooden chopstick into the oil and if small bubbles start coming out of the end, you're good to go!)

Add the chicken into the hot oil one piece at a time. Drop them in gently close to the oil and not from high above, which will cause the oil to splash. Once the wok is full, set aside the remaining chicken for a second batch.

After 1.5 minutes, stir the chicken around to ensure they don't stick together (Don't be tempted to do this sooner or else the crust may fall off!). After 1 more minute (for a total frying time of 2.5 minutes), remove the pieces from the wok. Set aside. Repeat the frying with the remaining batch of chicken.

Now it's time to fry the chicken a second time. This not only forces the oil out of the chicken so it's less greasy, but also adds to the crispiness. Increase the heat and bring the oil to 370°F. Again, working one batch at a time, fry the chicken for 40 to 50 seconds, then set aside. Make sure to bring the oil back up to 370°F before frying the second batch.

Turn off the heat, pour out the hot oil in a heat-resistant bowl and wipe down the wok if reusing.

8

Cook sauce

scroll to play this step

Add oil (1 tsp) to the wok (you can reuse frying oil if you'd like) and heat on medium for 10 to 20 seconds.

Add the minced garlic and dried chili peppers, stir frying for 30 to 40 seconds until aromatic.

Pour in the sauce and stir constantly for 30 to 40 seconds. Taste and adjust if needed.

Turn heat to low, give the slurry a quick stir and add slowly a bit at a time, while constantly mixing the sauce. Cook for about 1 minute. Check consistency, adding more slurry or water if needed to thin or thicken consistency. Turn the heat off, add the sesame oil (1 tsp) and mix.

9

Mix in ingredients

scroll to play this step

With the heat off, add the fried chicken, bell peppers, red chili pepper and mix well. Sprinkle in a bit of the sesame seeds and mix them in, then add some more on top, saving some for garnish.

10

Plate & garnish

scroll to play this step

Transfer the sesame chicken to a large plate. Sprinkle the reserved toasted sesame seeds on top. Place broccoli on the side of the plate and serve!

Pairs well with

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Frequently Asked Questions

Made with love ❤️

The Lau Family

We started Made With Lau to celebrate Cantonese culture and honor the legacy of our wonderful parents, Jenny and Chung Sun Lau.

Our hope is that these recipes and stories help you spread the joy, love, and nostalgia that I felt growing up.

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A family-run Cantonese cooking project from Daddy Lau, Randy Lau, and a small team in the Bay Area.

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