Sesame Peanut Chicken

Chicken

• 3-4 chicken thighs, diced
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 large garlic clove, grated
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

For the Sauce

• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chili crisp
• 2 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 large garlic clove, grated
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

Directions

• Toss the diced chicken thighs with the soy sauce, onion powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, grated garlic, baking soda, and cornstarch. Let sit about 10 minutes to tenderize.
• Whisk the sauce: soy sauce, chili crisp, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, peanut butter, and grated garlic until smooth.
• Heat a little oil in a pan over medium-high heat and sear the chicken, undisturbed at first, until golden and cooked through.
• Add the butter and let it melt, then pour in the sauce. Simmer, tossing, until it thickens into a glossy glaze that coats the chicken (add a splash of water if too thick).
• Serve over rice; garnish with sesame seeds and sliced scallions if you like.

From Zach Olson (@zachs.foods), a 20-minute weeknight dish shared via https://www.instagram.com/reel/De2Cg_0ilUy/ . Ingredients are exactly as listed in the reel; the method follows the velvet-sear-glaze flow shown in the video.