Sesame Honey Popcorn Chicken

Sesame honey popcorn chicken is made of bite-sized pieces of battered, fried chicken. They are then tossed in a sweet, salty, sticky sauce built mainly on soy sauce, honey and sesame oil. The chicken is finished with a scattering of sesame seeds.

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What you need to make this sesame honey popcorn chicken:

Chicken — breasts cut into cubes, the main protein, marinated then fried into bites.
Marinade (crumbled chicken stock cube, pepper) — the stock cube is what really gives the chicken its flavour before frying.
Batter (eggs, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, oil) — it coats the chicken and turns crisp as it cooks; the baking powder keeps it light.
Sauce (soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, honey, brown sugar, garlic) — the sweet, salty, tangy balance that then coats the fried chicken.
Cornstarch slurry — poured into the hot sauce, it thickens it to that sticky texture you're after.
Sesame oil — stirred into the sauce, it adds the characteristic toasted sesame note.
Sesame seeds and spring onions — the finishing touch, for crunch and freshness.

Why this sesame honey popcorn chicken must be on your menu!

A contrast everyone loves: tender inside, crisp outside.
It's exactly what kids — and grown-ups just as much — keep coming back for.
Quick despite the steps: between the marinade, the batter, the frying and the sauce, it's all done in 55 minutes, prep included.
Better than the takeout version: the same sticky sweet-and-salty sauce as the Chinese counter, but with ingredients you actually know.
And no waiting for delivery.
Couldn't be simpler to serve: straight onto a plate, to eat with your fingers like popcorn — hence the name.

Sesame Honey Popcorn Chicken

Marinated chicken bites, battered and fried, then tossed in a sticky soy, honey and sesame sauce.

Prep 25 min

Cook 20 min

Total time 55 min

Course: Main course Cuisine: Asian Keyword: Popcorn chicken Calories:

Ingredients

Servings: 4 servings

Instructions

The marinade — Cut the chicken breasts into cubes. Put them in a bowl with the crumbled chicken stock cube, the pepper and the water.
Mix until even and leave to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
The batter — In a bowl, mix the eggs, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, water and oil until you have a smooth batter.
Add the chicken pieces and stir until each one is evenly coated.
The sauce — In a bowl, mix the soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, honey, brown sugar and water until even. Set aside.
In another bowl, mix the cornstarch with the water. Set aside. Slice the spring onions and set aside.
Cooking — In a non-stick pan, heat the oil. Gently lower in the battered chicken pieces, working in batches so as not to crowd the pan.
Fry for about 3 minutes. Lift out with a spider strainer and drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper. Set aside.
In a wok, heat a little oil. Pour in the sauce and let it heat for a few minutes, until small bubbles appear.
Pour in the cornstarch and water mixture. Stir until it thickens.
Add the battered chicken pieces and stir to coat them well.
Add the sesame seeds and sliced spring onions. Toss together and serve at once.

Nutrition (per serving)

Tips

Fry in small batches: a crowded pan drops the oil temperature and the batter goes soft.
Let the chicken marinate for at least 10 minutes — the crumbled stock cube is what gives it its flavour.
Only pour in the cornstarch slurry once the sauce is gently bubbling, otherwise it will not thicken.
Serve straight away: the batter loses its crispness as it sits in the sauce.

Sesame Honey Popcorn Chicken

Sesame Honey Popcorn Chicken

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition (per serving)

Tips

Personal note

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