**Sesame Seed Chicken: A Unique Turkish Meze That Will Tantalize Your Taste Buds**
When it comes to Turkish cuisine, meze is an essential part of the dining experience. These small plates, often served as appetizers or snacks, offer a delightful array of flavors and textures that whet the appetite and set the stage for the main course. Among the many meze dishes, sesame seed chicken stands out as a unique and delectable treat that combines the best of Turkish culinary traditions.
This dish features tender chicken pieces coated in a flavorful mixture of spices and herbs, then lightly fried until golden brown. The chicken is then generously sprinkled with sesame seeds, creating a crispy and aromatic crust that adds a delightful crunch to every bite. The result is a tantalizing appetizer that is both savory and satisfying, leaving you craving more.
Our collection of sesame seed chicken recipes offers a variety of options to suit every taste preference. From the classic Turkish recipe that uses a blend of paprika, cumin, and oregano, to a more modern interpretation that incorporates a hint of lemon and garlic, there's a recipe here for everyone.
Whether you're looking for a quick and easy snack or an impressive dish to serve at your next party, sesame seed chicken is sure to be a hit. So, gather your ingredients, follow our step-by-step instructions, and get ready to experience the delightful flavors of this Turkish meze.
PERFECT SESAME CHICKEN
If you want the perfect sesame chicken recipe this is it! You may want to increase the vinegar or lower the amount of sugar. It all depends on how sweet you want the sauce.
Provided by Doreen P
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian
Time 1h15m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Sift flour, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder into a bowl. Pour in low-sodium soy sauce, sherry, 2 tablespoons water, vegetable oil, and a dash of sesame oil; stir until smooth. Stir in chicken until coated with the batter, then cover, and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring chicken broth, sugar, vinegar, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, chile paste, and garlic to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Dissolve 1/4 cup cornstarch into 1/2 cup of water, and stir into boiling sauce. Simmer until the sauce thickens and turns clear, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and keep sauce warm.
- Heat olive oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to a temperature of 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Drop in the battered chicken pieces, a few at a time, and fry until they turn golden brown and float to the top of the oil, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on a paper towel lined plate. To serve, place fried chicken pieces onto a serving platter, and pour the hot sauce overtop. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds to garnish.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 506.7 calories, Carbohydrate 49.8 g, Cholesterol 43.1 mg, Fat 28.5 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 14 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 713.9 mg, Sugar 33.7 g
SESAME CHICKEN
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Wash the chicken under cold running water, pat dry and trim off any excess fat. Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes and put into a large mixing bowl. Add the marinade ingredients to the bowl and stir to combine. Set aside to marinate while you prepare the sauce.
- To make the sauce: In a saucepan, add the sesame oil and set over low heat. Add the ginger and garlic and fry gently until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the remaining sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well to dissolve the cornstarch. Gently pour into the saucepan with the fried ginger and garlic. Stir as you pour because the cornstarch will thicken up pretty quickly. Keep warm over low heat.
- In a heavy-bottomed pot or deep-fryer heat enough oil to come halfway up the sides of the pot, to 375 degrees F.
- Fry the chicken, in small batches, until golden and crispy, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the chicken using a wire mesh strainer and drain on paper towels. Season with a little salt, to taste. To serve, arrange the fried chicken on a platter and pour drizzle with the sauce. Sprinkle with a generous amount of toasted sesame seeds and garnish with scallions and cilantro sprigs.
SESAME-COATED SAUTéED CHICKEN BREASTS
Here is a classic recipe from Pierre Franey's "60-Minute Gourmet," one that happens not to take quite that long to cook at all. Sesame was a novel ingredient for him, he wrote in 1981, introduced to him by the cooking of "the late Virginia Lee, one of the finest Chinese chefs I have ever met. She used a lot of sesame oil and sesame paste in her flavorings, both in main courses and sauces such as that which accompanies a Mongolian hot pot." Mr. Franey used sesame seeds as a coating quite a bit after that - on fish fillets, for example - and here adapted the idea to a main course, using whole, skinned, boned chicken breasts. "The dish turned out admirably in texture and flavor," he wrote. Even better, "it is certainly easy to make, involving nothing more than coating the breast halves with the seeds and sauteing them briefly on both sides in butter. There is a final touch, a light 'sauce' made of hazelnut butter to which a dash of lemon juice is added." (By that, Mr. Franey meant butter that is browned until it is hazelnut in color.)
Provided by Pierre Franey
Categories easy, quick, times classics, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place each chicken breast half between slices of wax paper or plastic wrap. Pound lightly with a mallet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Dredge the pieces on all sides in the sesame seeds.
- Heat three tablespoons of the butter in a large, heavy skillet and add the breasts in one layer. This may have to be done in two steps, or you may use two skillets. If two skillets are used, double the basic amount of butter. Cook about five minutes on one side. Turn and cook on the second side about five minutes. Then transfer them to a heated serving dish.
- Heat the four remaining tablespoons of butter in a skillet and add the lemon juice. Swirl the butter around until it is hazelnut brown. Pour this sauce over the chicken breasts and serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 370, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 7 grams, Fat 34 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 11 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 204 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 1 gram
SESAME CHICKEN
This dish is the real deal, with sesame seeds and oil, veggies, rice wine and spices. A marinated stir-fry chicken dish that will loudly proclaim, 'Open, Sesame!' to your delighted taste buds.
Provided by Shelley
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Chinese
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- To Make Marinade: In a nonporous dish or bowl blend cornstarch with wine or sherry; then stir in lemon juice, soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, ginger and garlic. Blend together and stir in chicken strips. Cover dish and refrigerate to marinate for 3 to 4 hours.
- In a wok or large skillet, place sesame seeds and dry-fry over medium heat, shaking the wok, until the seeds are a golden brown color. Remove seeds and set aside.
- To same wok or skillet add sesame oil and vegetable oil and heat slowly. Drain chicken, reserving marinade, and stir-fry in wok a few pieces at a time, until browned. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add mushrooms and green bell pepper to same wok or skillet and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the scallions and stir-fry 1 minute more. Return chicken to wok, together with reserved marinade, and stir over medium high heat for another 2 to 3 minutes, or until the ingredients are evenly coated with the glaze. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 278.9 calories, Carbohydrate 7.2 g, Cholesterol 65.9 mg, Fat 14.1 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 28.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 311.7 mg, Sugar 1.7 g
Tips:
- To achieve the best flavor, use high-quality sesame seeds. Look for seeds that are plump and have a slightly nutty aroma.
- If you don't have sumac, you can substitute lemon juice or vinegar. However, sumac adds a unique tangy flavor that is characteristic of Turkish cuisine.
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken. It should be cooked through but still tender and juicy.
- Serve the sesame seed chicken with a side of rice or bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Conclusion:
Sesame seed chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make Turkish meze that is perfect for any occasion. With its crispy sesame seed coating and tangy sumac sauce, this dish is sure to be a hit with your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting appetizer, give sesame seed chicken a try!
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