Ginger Sesame Chicken

Nutty toasted sesame seeds combine with fresh, aromatic ginger root to flavor this tasty Asian dish. The soy sauce and wine contribute to its savory profile, the maple syrup adds a subtly touch of sweetness and the Chinese Five Spice powder lends its five flavors: sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty. All these tastes blend beautifully to create a meal that’s easy to put together and tastes fresher and better than take out Chinese! It’s better for you too, of course. I suggest serving this Ginger Sesame Chicken over ¾ cup of brown rice (per serving) as pictured, but I listed the P+ without the rice as well in case you have alternate plans. In addition to being delicious I also thought this meal was very filling and kept me satisfied for the rest of the evening after eating it. Add a vegetable like broccoli as a side dish (or double the recipe for the sauce and incorporate it right into the meal) to make it even more filling!

To view your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, click here!

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Ginger Sesame Chicken

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Calories: 200kcal

Ginger Sesame Chicken is healthier than take out, but just as delicious!

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon light maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon dry wine, the original recipe uses sherry, but I used Riesling because it’s what I had open
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon five spice powder, Asian spice blend
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 lb raw boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• Optional: 3 cups cooked brown rice

Instructions

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the sesame seeds until lightly toasted (2-3 minutes), shaking the pan frequently. Remove toasted seeds from heat and transfer to a dish. Set skillet aside for use in step 4.
• In a small bowl, combine the water, soy sauce, maple syrup, wine, ginger and five spice and stir together.
• Place the flour, salt and pepper in a Ziploc bag and shake to mix. Add the chicken pieces and seal. Shake until chicken pieces are thoroughly coated.
• Add the sesame oil to the large skillet and bring to medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and cook through, flipping the chicken to brown on all sides (about 5 minutes). Pour the sauce mixture from step 2 over the chicken and stir to coat. Cook for a few more minutes until sauce is thickened and coating chicken. Add toasted sesame seeds to chicken and stir to coat (or sprinkle seeds over top of each serving). Split chicken into four servings and serve over 3/4 cup cooked rice if desired.

Notes

To view your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, click here!

Nutrition Information (optional rice not included):

200 calories, 6 g carbs, 2 g sugars, 8 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 26 g protein, 1 g fiber (from myfitnesspal.com)

MyWW SmartPoints per (1/4 of the recipe) serving: (SP calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)

Green: 4 SmartPoints/ Blue: 3 SmartPoints/ Purple: 3 SmartPoints

Weight Watchers Points Plus (rice not included):

5 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)

adapted from Healthy in a Year

Author: Emily Bites

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Keyword: 30 Minute Meal, Easy WW Dinner, Lighter