Flattened chicken breasts get a bold rub of chili flakes, cumin seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns before hitting the hot grill. The meat cooks in just a few minutes, developing a charred and fragrant crust. A crisp side salad of shredded white cabbage, red onion, and fresh chili provides a bright contrast to the savory poultry. A quick dressing of sesame oil, soy sauce, and brown sugar ties the whole meal together. Serve this quick dinner on busy weeknights when you want maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Cook
4 min
Total
25 min
Course
Dinner
Ingredients
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp each chilli flakes, cumin seeds and Sichuan peppercorns
1 tbsp soft brown sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
½ small white cabbage, finely shredded
1 red onion, sliced
1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped
1 slice most of the way through each chicken breast lengthways and open out like a book. Cover with cling film and gently beat with a rolling pin until flattened. Rub 2 teaspoons of the sesame oil all over the chicken.
Instructions
1Whisk the remaining sesame oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, and lemon juice together in a small bowl. Combine the shredded cabbage, sliced red onion, and chopped chili in a separate large bowl. Pour half of the liquid mixture over the vegetables and toss thoroughly to coat.
2Set the leftover soy and sesame dressing aside to serve later as a dipping sauce for the cooked meat.
3Preheat the grill to high heat. Arrange the prepared chicken breasts on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Grill the meat for 3 to 4 minutes per side until fully cooked. Plate the hot chicken alongside the dressed cabbage salad, fresh lemon halves, scattered coriander, and the reserved dipping sauce.