Growing up, Wednesdays were my favorite day of the week because Wednesday night dinner was always Chinese Takeout, And I always had the same order: sesame chicken with white rice. Sticky, sweet, crunchy...my mouth is watering just writing this recipe up. When I cleaned up my diet and started getting serious about my health, I didn't want it to come at the expense of enjoying my favorite foods. Most Sesame Chicken recipes are loaded with added sugar and MSG (monosodium glutamate) which I did not want to put in my body. This recipe uses clean swaps but is full of flavor so I can still enjoy one of my favorite dishes, any day of the week.
For the chicken :
1/2 kilo or 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup arrowroot starch + 2 tbsp, divided(you can also use organic corn starch or whole wheat flour if not gf)
6 tbsp coconut aminos or gluten free soy sauce
2 tbsp hot water water
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
3-4 tbsp sesame seeds, plus more to top.
avocado oil for sautéing
For the cauliflower rice:
2 cups frozen, premade cauliflower rice
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley (optional)
For the broccoli:
2 heads broccoli, cut into small pieces
2 tbsp olive oil •salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions:
Drizzle the broccoli with olive oil, salt, pepper, and sesame seeds. Bake at 190°C or 375°F for 20-25 minutes. Remove and let cool.
Meanwhile, cut chicken into small, 1 inch pieces. Add 1/4 cup arrowroot starch and toss to coat.
In a separate bowl, combine coconut aminos/soy sauce, water, sesame oil, warm water, 2 tbsp arrowroot starch, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Mix to combine.
Heat oil in a large saucepan and add the chicken. Cook for about 7-10 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through.
Add the sauce to the chicken. and stir. After a few minutes some of the liquid should evaporate and sauce should thicken up. This is when you should remove it from the heat.
Top chicken with sesame seeds.
Heat up the water in a small pot and add the cauliflower rice. Once the water evaporates, add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley.
Assemble your bowl- start with the cauliflower rice, then add your broccoli and sesame chicken.
Enjoy!