Description
This Healthy Sesame Chicken recipe is a flavorful, nutritious take on a beloved classic, featuring tender chicken cubes sautéed in a delightful sesame sauce made with coconut aminos, honey, and lime. Perfectly paired with green beans and white rice, this dish offers a balanced meal with a bright and tangy flavor profile that’s easy to prepare and sure to please.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Oil
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
Sauce
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lime zest (zest of one lime)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (juice of one lime)
Garnish and Optional Serving
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish
- 2 cups cooked green beans (optional)
- 1 cup cooked white rice (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Chicken and Side Dishes: Begin by cutting the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Prepare the white rice and green beans separately according to package directions or your preferred cooking method.
- Heat Oil and Cook Chicken: In a pan over medium-high heat, warm 1/2 tablespoon of avocado oil for about 1 minute. Add the chicken cubes and sauté them until they are browned on all sides and cooked through, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken cooks, whisk together the coconut aminos, honey, toasted sesame oil, ground ginger, minced garlic, rice vinegar, black pepper, lime zest, and lime juice in a bowl to combine the sauce ingredients evenly.
- Cook the Sauce: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set aside. Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the still hot pan (no need to clean it). Cook the sauce over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring continuously, until it bubbles and thickens, taking care to prevent it from burning.
- Combine Chicken with Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the pan and stir well to coat all the pieces thoroughly in the thickened sauce.
- Serve: Plate the sesame chicken over cooked white rice and green beans. Garnish with 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds for a nutty finishing touch.
Notes
- Chicken Substitution: You can substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for a juicier texture.
- Oil Alternatives: If avocado oil is unavailable, use olive oil or refined coconut oil.
- Vegetable Options: Green beans can be replaced with broccoli or any vegetable you prefer.
- Sauce Variations: Coconut aminos can be swapped with low sodium soy sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos.
- Ginger Alternatives: If fresh ginger is unavailable, use 1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
