Description
This Healthy Sesame Chicken with Green Beans and Rice is a flavorful, nutritious dish featuring tender chicken breast cooked in a savory sesame sauce, paired with crisp steamed green beans and fragrant jasmine rice. Perfect for a balanced weeknight dinner, it combines Asian-inspired flavors with wholesome ingredients and cooking methods for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil (divided)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Vegetables
- 2 cups green beans, trimmed
Rice
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 2 cups water (for rice)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (for rice)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (for rice)
Instructions
- Heat Oil: Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat to prepare for cooking the chicken.
- Cook Chicken: Add the chicken breast pieces to the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Set Chicken Aside: Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and place it on a plate to keep warm.
- Add Olive Oil: In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to sauté the aromatics.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add minced garlic and ginger to the pan, sautéing for 1-2 minutes until fragrant to build the sauce base.
- Prepare Sauce Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, water, and cornstarch until smooth and well combined.
- Add Sauce to Pan: Pour the prepared soy sauce mixture into the pan with garlic and ginger.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir the sauce and bring it to a simmer for 3-4 minutes, allowing it to thicken to a glossy consistency.
- Toss Chicken in Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss it in the sauce ensuring it’s evenly coated with the flavorful glaze.
- Add Sesame Seeds: Sprinkle sesame seeds over the chicken and stir gently to incorporate them throughout the dish.
- Prepare Rice Water: In a separate pot, combine 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook Jasmine Rice: Once boiling, add jasmine rice, stir briefly, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed.
- Steam Green Beans: While rice cooks, bring a pot of water to boil, add green beans, and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Drain Green Beans: Drain the green beans and set aside to maintain their vibrant color and crispness.
- Plate and Serve: Serve the sesame chicken alongside steamed green beans and jasmine rice for a balanced and delicious meal.
Notes
- For extra flavor, garnish with chopped green onions or additional sesame seeds.
- You can substitute chicken breast with chicken thighs for a juicier texture.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to keep the sodium content in check.
- Ensure the green beans are not overcooked to maintain a crisp texture.
- If preferred, cook the rice using a rice cooker to simplify the process.
