Sesame Chicken with Snow Peas and Rice. TNS

Linda Gassenheimer

Honey, ginger and soy sauce lend a sweet and savory flavor to this quick-cooked chicken. A coating of sesame seeds brightens the dish and adds a crunchy texture.

Toasted sesame seeds and toasted sesame oil have a rich sesame flavor. Instead of toasting the seeds myself, I found them already toasted in a jar in the sushi section of the supermarket. Toasted sesame oil is also available in the market. I like to keep it on hand and use it to flavor vegetables and salads. Both add extra flavor to the recipe, but are simply an option. The recipe calls for regular sesame seeds and sesame oil as they are more readily available.

Helpful Hints:

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs. A meat thermometer should read 165 degrees for the cooked breast meat.

Look for trimmed snow peas in the produce section of the market.

Any type of green vegetable such as green beans or broccoli can be used in the rice.

Countdown:

Make chicken.

While chicken cooks, make rice.

SESAME SEARED CHICKEN

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Olive oil spray

2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce

3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, opened flat

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Mix honey, ginger and soy sauce together and set aside. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray. Add the chicken and sauté 5 minutes. Turn chicken and sauté 3 minutes, a meat thermometer should read 170 degrees. Spoon sauce over the chicken and let warm in skillet for about 30 seconds, turning chicken in the sauce to make sure both sides are coated. Remove to individual dishes and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Yield 2 servings.

SNOW PEAS AND RICE

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

3 cups trimmed snow peas (about 12 ounces)

1 package microwaveable brown rice (to make 1 1/2-cups cooked)

2 teaspoons sesame oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place snow peas in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high 2 minutes. Remove from microwave. Add the brown rice to the microwave and cook according to package instructions. Remove and measure 1 1/2- cups cooked rice. Save remaining rice for another meal. Add rice to snow peas along with sesame oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss well.

Yield 2 servings.

Tribune News Service