Crunchy Sesame Chicken with Summer Leaves and Fennel Recipe

Ingredients

• 100g (4oz) flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 50g (2oz) sesame seeds
• 100g (4oz) fresh breadcrumbs
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
• oil, for frying
• 5tbsp sweet chilli dipping sauce, such as Blue Dragon
• 1 bag baby salad leaves
• 1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced

For the dressing

• 3tbsp groundnut oil
• 2tbsp rice vinegar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C, 180 C fan, 400 F, gas 6. Start by preparing three bowls: one of the well seasoned flour, the next with 2 beaten eggs and last with the sesame seeds and breadcrumbs mixed together. Now dip the chicken strips first into the flour, then the egg, then the crumb mixture. Put them onto a tray or large plate in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.

2. To cook, heat some groundnut or sunflower oil in a large sauté or frying pan, about 1cm deep. Fry the chicken in batches, removing them to a baking sheet once browned. Put into the oven in a small roasting tin to cook through for 5 minutes. While the chicken is still warm, stir in the sweet chilli sauce. Transfer to a platter.

3. For the dressing, whisk the oil and rice vinegar together with seasoning and toss through the salad leaves and fennel.