Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Slice the chicken breast into ¼-inch strips and place in a ziplock bag with 2 tablespoons cornstarch and the whites from 2 large eggs. Refrigerate for about an hour to tenderize.
 - Combine panko breadcrumbs with unsweetened coconut flakes in a casserole dish. Dredge each marinated chicken strip thoroughly in the mixture.
 - Fold each coated strip into a U-shape, place on a cooling rack, and put in the freezer while preparing the sauce.
 - Whisk together 1 teaspoon cornstarch, sugar, honey, chicken broth, dry sherry, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, plum sauce, and dark soy sauce. Refrigerate the sauce mixture.
 - Chop the dried red chilies into ¼-inch pieces and combine with sesame oil. Slice ginger into thin strips, smash and mince the garlic clove, and chop the green onion into ½-inch pieces.
 - Heat oil to 350°F and deep-fry the frozen chicken for 5 minutes until golden and crispy.
 - In a wok over medium heat, sauté the chilies in sesame oil until sizzling. Add the garlic, ginger, and green onions, cooking until the onions begin to wilt.
 - Pour in the prepared sauce, stirring until it bubbles. Add 1 tablespoon water and remove from heat.
 - Add the fried chicken to the wok, tossing to coat each piece thoroughly in the sauce.
 - Serve over steamed rice or with steamed broccoli for a complete meal.
 
Notes
For a spicier version, keep some of the seeds in the dried chilies or substitute the sesame oil with hot chili oil. If plum sauce isn't available, additional hoisin sauce works as a substitute. The quality of soy sauce significantly impacts the flavor, so use a good dark soy sauce if possible.
For a healthier alternative, bake the chicken at 425°F for 15-20 minutes instead of deep-frying. Gluten-free adaptations can include using rice flour instead of cornstarch and tamari instead of soy sauce.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat to help restore some crispiness.
