Sesame Chicken Fingers

Instead of being deep-fried, these chicken fingers are baked in a colorful sesame crust. Black sesame seeds can be found at Japanese markets (where they are called gomen), as well as at natural foods stores and Armenian markets. If black sesame seeds are unavailable, use more white.

NotesHoney-Soy Dipping Sauce:

Here’s a sweet-and-sour sauce for people who don’t like sweet-and-sour sauce. There’s nothing sticky or cloying about it.

2/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce

¼ cup distilled vinegar

¼ cup honey, or to taste

¼ cup water, or to taste

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

3 scallions, trimmed and minced

Put all the ingredients in a nonreactive mixing bowl and whisk to combine. If the sauce tastes too strong, add a little more water; if it’s too salty, add a little more honey. Transfer the sauce to small bowls for dipping.

Makes 1¾ cups

11 Calories Per Serving (2 Teaspoons); 0.3g Protein; 0g Fat; 0g Saturated Fat; 2.7g Carbohydrate; 179mg Sodium; 0mg Cholesterol

Vietnamese Dipping Sauce:

This delicate sauce goes by the name of nuoc mam in Vietnam, where it's served as an all-purpose table sauce.

¼ cup warm water

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

3 tablespoons fish sauce or soy sauce

1 tablespoon honey

½ carrot, shredded as finely as possible

Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir to dissolve the honey. Divide the sauce among 4 tiny bowls for serving.

Makes about 1 cup

30 Calories Per Serving;* 1g Protein; 0g Fat; 0g Saturated Fat; 6g Carbohydrate; 114mg Sodium; 2mg Cholesterol

*Analysis is based on 4 servings.

Cooking Methodbaking

CostInexpensive

Total Timeunder 4 hours

OccasionCocktail Party, Family Get-together, game day

Recipe Courseappetizer, hors d'oeuvre, main course

Dietary Considerationgluten-free, halal, kosher, lactose-free, peanut free, tree nut free

Mealdinner

Taste and Texturecrisp, meaty, nutty, savory, umami