Someone recently asked what our family favorites are. Well, you've been seeing them. A lot of the things I share on here are our go-to meals and everyone in the family (usually) likes them. There are a few that I've yet to share, though, and today's recipe is DEFINITELY one of them. We LOVE this dish. And on Thursday I'll give you a side dish that is amazing with it. I'm trying to squeeze in just a couple more recipes that are made with very fresh ingredients here before the markets lose all that beautiful produce! Some of you can easily make this year-round, however. Hope you like it as much as we do!
Sesame Chicken with Mango Salsa
Salsa
1 1/2 cups diced mango
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4-1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalepeno, seeded and diced**
1 Tbs minced ginger (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)
2 Tbs sugar
3 Tbs lime juice (lemon will work, if you can't get lime--start with 2 Tbs)
1 Tbs olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
Mix well. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
**For hot pepper, if fresh jalepeno is not available, substitute a bit of whatever you can get from the market (little green peppers, or similar), or use a slice or two of canned/jarred jalepenos if they are available from import stores (about Y10 a can in my city, so really affordable and last forever). You could leave it out altogether, but it does add a nice flavor to have a bit of kick with the sweetness. In the grocery store, I recently found the little Chinese green hot peppers pickled like we would buy jalepenos--in a little jar near all the soys and such for really cheap. They are HOT though! A little goes a long way.
Chicken
Soak 4 boneless chicken breasts in soy sauce for 30 minutes. Discard soy sauce and dredge breasts in sesame seeds. Bake at 350F (180C) for 30-45 minutes, according to size of breasts. Pair with chilled salsa to serve.
Notes:
Try substituting a different fruit in the salsa! I have tried pineapple and it was good (my husband is partial to the mango though!). Peach would probably work nicely. Let us know if you come up with something brilliant!
For chicken, if you choose to grill it, just wait to put the sesame seeds on until near the end. Brush on a little more soy and sprinkle them on just before removing from the grill. You can also do little tenders in a skillet on the stove if you don't want to bake them. I'd recommend pounding breasts to an even thickness before baking in order to tenderize a bit and so they will bake evenly. I've tried every way you can imagine with this dish and it all works!!
Sesame Chicken with Mango Salsa
Salsa
1 1/2 cups diced mango
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4-1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalepeno, seeded and diced**
1 Tbs minced ginger (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)
2 Tbs sugar
3 Tbs lime juice (lemon will work, if you can't get lime--start with 2 Tbs)
1 Tbs olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
Mix well. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
**For hot pepper, if fresh jalepeno is not available, substitute a bit of whatever you can get from the market (little green peppers, or similar), or use a slice or two of canned/jarred jalepenos if they are available from import stores (about Y10 a can in my city, so really affordable and last forever). You could leave it out altogether, but it does add a nice flavor to have a bit of kick with the sweetness. In the grocery store, I recently found the little Chinese green hot peppers pickled like we would buy jalepenos--in a little jar near all the soys and such for really cheap. They are HOT though! A little goes a long way.
Chicken
Soak 4 boneless chicken breasts in soy sauce for 30 minutes. Discard soy sauce and dredge breasts in sesame seeds. Bake at 350F (180C) for 30-45 minutes, according to size of breasts. Pair with chilled salsa to serve.
Notes:
Try substituting a different fruit in the salsa! I have tried pineapple and it was good (my husband is partial to the mango though!). Peach would probably work nicely. Let us know if you come up with something brilliant!
For chicken, if you choose to grill it, just wait to put the sesame seeds on until near the end. Brush on a little more soy and sprinkle them on just before removing from the grill. You can also do little tenders in a skillet on the stove if you don't want to bake them. I'd recommend pounding breasts to an even thickness before baking in order to tenderize a bit and so they will bake evenly. I've tried every way you can imagine with this dish and it all works!!
Yum. Just bought some mangoes yesterday. And I've got chicken in the freezer. Going to try this. But now I've got to come up with my own side dish? Making us wait is just mean. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI try to spread out my posting!! 2 a week!! :-) Hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThis has become a family favorite of ours. Thanks for posting!! Glad it's mango season again!!!
ReplyDeleteMmmm! Us too! We made it this past week as well!
ReplyDelete