Sesame Chicken

It's about time I blogged again, isn't it? Sorry about the absence. My cooking suffers during my husband's busy season...Who wants to cook for one?? Anyway, today I'm mixing it up a little with a fabulous Asian recipe, compliments of my friend and old co-worker at the BYU writing center, Courtney. (Thanks, girl—I owe you!)

I can't get enough of this recipe. The secret is so simple—combining honey and teriyaki sauce. Mmmm, mmmm, good! It's tangy and just a bit sweet, with a little heat from the red pepper flakes. The perfect combination.


1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
5 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into chunks
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 yellow onion, cut into wedges
1/2 cup green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons honey

1. Combine flour, 1/4 cup sesame seeds, black pepper, five-spice powder, and red pepper flakes. Coat the chicken pieces.
   
2. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Place chicken into skillet, and brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken, and set aside.
   
3. Saute onion wedges and bell pepper slices in the same skillet. Remove, and set aside.
4. Return chicken to skillet, and reduce heat to low. Mix in teriyaki marinade, 1/4 cup sesame seeds, and honey; stir until sauce thickens. Return onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Warm through, and serve.

FYI, when I'm trying to go a little healthier, I skip coating the chicken with the flour and frying it. Instead, I just saute chicken slices with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds. It's simple, but with the fabulous sauce and veggies, it is still scrumptious.

(Oh yeah, I never did buy the Chinese five-spice powder...I'm not one for buying a spice unless I have other recipes to use it in. Maybe someday I'll pick it up, for for now, it's still great without it.)

Let me know what you think if you try this one!