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Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 7, 2011

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

6 tablespoons warm water ¼ cup creamy peanut butter ¼ cup hoisin sauce 1 garlic clove, minced1 teaspoon red pepper flakes ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves ¾ cup sesame seeds 1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins Salt and pepper 6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Whisk water, peanut butter, hoisin, garlic, pepper flakes, and cilantro in bowl. Place sesame seeds in shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper and roll in sesame seeds, pressing to adhere.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook half of chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to large plate lined with paper towels, wipe out skillet, and repeat with remaining oil and chicken. Serve with dipping sauce.
Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Sesame Chicken Fingers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

6 tablespoons warm water
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup hoisin sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¾ cup sesame seeds
1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins
Salt and pepper
6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Ingredients

6 tablespoons warm water
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup hoisin sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¾ cup sesame seeds
1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins
Salt and pepper
6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Ingredients

6 tablespoons warm water
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup hoisin sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¾ cup sesame seeds
1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins
Salt and pepper
6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Why This Recipe Works

Crunchy sesame seeds, juicy chicken, and a tangy, bold peanut sauce, all in a chicken fingers recipe? Sign us up. To prevent fires, or at least burnt sesame seeds stuck to our chicken fingers, we found it important to wipe out the skillet between rounds. If your grocery store doesn’t carry chicken tenderloins, make your own by slicing boneless, skinless breasts lengthwise into strips.

Instructions

  1. Whisk water, peanut butter, hoisin, garlic, pepper flakes, and cilantro in bowl. Place sesame seeds in shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper and roll in sesame seeds, pressing to adhere.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook half of chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to large plate lined with paper towels, wipe out skillet, and repeat with remaining oil and chicken. Serve with dipping sauce.

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