SESAME OIL GINGER CHICKEN WITH NOODLES

Currently in my sesame oil era 😆 I’ve heard about sesame oil chicken forever but somehow never actually cooked it.. until this week. Simple, nourishing, and perfect with noodles or rice, and honestly way better than I expected. Ginger, shiitake, rice wine, and that nutty sesame oil goodness all in one pot. Best part? The kids loved it and went back for more, which pretty much seals the deal for me 🙌 Ingredients (2 pax) 1. 2 skin-on boneless chicken thighs (about 400g), cut into pieces 2. 8-10 dried shiitake mushroom (soak for at least 1-2hrs before cooking) 3. 10 thinly sliced ginger 4. 200 ml rice cooking wine 5. 150 ml mushroom soaking water 6. 150 ml water (add more if required) 7. A small handful of goji berries 8. ½ tsp sea salt adjust to taste 9. ½ tsp sugar adjust to taste 10. 1 tsp MSG (optional), it will enhance the flavour 11. 30 ml sesame oil 12. 1 egg sunny side up (optional) 13. Chopped spring onions for garnish 14. Noodles or Jasmine rice (optional) Marinate for Chicken (at least 30 minutes before cooking) 1. 1 tbsp of light soya sauce 2. 1 tbsp of sesame oil 3. 1 tbsp of Shaoxing wine 4. 1 tbsp of cornstarch 5. A pinch of baking soda 6. Mix well Instructions 1. Heat a medium pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add in some neutral oil. 2. Add in the Marinated chicken, skin side down. Spread the chicken and let it brown. 3. Once browned, turn over and cook for 1 minute. 4. Remove and set aside. If there's too much fat at this point, take a kitchen towel and carefully remove the access. 5. Add your ginger slices in and let them brown slightly. You'll notice that the edges will start to curl up slightly. 6. At this point, add in the dehydrated shiitake mushrooms. 7. Once the mushrooms are fragrant, add all of the chicken back in and mix well. 8. Add in all of the Chinese rice cooking wine and flambé. Ensure that your exhaust is switched off before doing so. 9. After 30 seconds, carefully cover with a lid. At this point, the alcohol is burnt off and the sweetness from the cooking wine enhances the dish. 10. Turn the heat down to medium-low and pour in all of the mushroom soaking liquid. 11. Add some water till all of the chicken is covered by liquid. 12. Add in a handful of goji berries, turn the heat down, cover and let it simmer for 10 minutes. 13. At this point, you can start cooking your noodles or rice. 14. Once time is up, add seasoning to taste and the sesame oil and adjust to your liking.