Sweet and sour chicken and sesame chicken are two popular Chinese-American chicken dishes. While they share some similarities, there are also key differences between the two.
Main Ingredients
The main ingredients in sweet and sour chicken and sesame chicken are quite similar:
- Chicken – Both dishes use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into bitesize pieces.
- Sauce – Sweet and sour chicken uses a sweet and tangy sauce made with ketchup, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and other ingredients. Sesame chicken is coated in a thick, sweet sauce made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin, sesame oil, ginger, and chili paste.
- Batter – The chicken is coated in a light batter before frying. The batters are slightly different, but both contain egg, cornstarch, baking powder, and seasonings.
- Vegetables – Both dishes can include vegetables like bell peppers, onions, carrots, and pineapple chunks.
So at their core, both dishes revolve around fried, sauced chicken and vegetables. The main difference lies in the sauce flavors.
Sauce Differences
Here’s a comparison of the two sauces:
| Sweet and Sour Sauce | Sesame Sauce |
|---|---|
|
|
So while both sauces are sweet, sesame chicken has a more umami, savory flavor compared to the brighter sweetness of sweet and sour sauce. The textures also differ, with sesame creating a thick coating and sweet and sour remaining smooth.
Preparation Methods
The preparation method also differs between the two dishes:
- Sweet and sour chicken – The raw chicken is tossed in cornstarch batter and deep fried until crispy. It is then tossed in the sweet and sour sauce along with vegetables.
- Sesame chicken – The chicken is coated in a batter containing cornstarch, egg, seasoning, and sometimes cornstarch. It is deep fried and then coated generously with thick sesame sauce.
So sesame chicken has an extra cooking step, allowing the sauce to really stick to the fried chicken pieces. Sweet and sour chicken incorporates the sauce at the end for a lighter coating.
Flavors and Taste
In terms of flavor profiles, sweet and sour chicken and sesame chicken differ in the following ways:
- Sweet and sour chicken is tangy, fruity, and sweet from ingredients like pineapple, bell peppers, vinegar, and ketchup.
- Sesame chicken is savory, nutty, and umami-forward from soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds.
- Sweet and sour chicken provides a balance of sweet and sour.
- Sesame chicken is dominantly sweet with savory and spicy undertones.
- The sweetness in sweet and sour sauce is lighter, while sesame chicken has a heavy, thick sweetness.
So sesame chicken has a more complex flavor with deep savory notes, while sweet and sour chicken is brighter andfruitier. The tastes cater to slightly different cravings.
Origins
Sweet and sour chicken and sesame chicken also differ in their origins:
- Sweet and sour chicken was created in the 1960s by Chinese immigrants adapting traditional Cantonese cooking methods to appeal to American tastes.
- Sesame chicken was first served in the 1970s at a New York City restaurant called Panda Inn. The dish was the brainchild of chef Cecilia Chiang.
So while both dishes were invented in America, sweet and sour chicken has its roots in traditional Chinese cooking, while sesame chicken was conceived as a brand new American-Chinese dish.
Nutrition
In terms of nutritional content, sesame chicken and sweet and sour chicken are quite similar since they use similar main ingredients. However, there are some subtle differences:
- Sesame chicken tends to be slightly higher in calories and fat since the sauce uses more oils, nut butters, and whole seeds.
- Sweet and sour sauce made with lots of fresh pineapple will contain more vitamin C.
- Sesame chicken provides more protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals from ingredients like sesame seeds, chili paste, and garlic.
- Sweet and sour chicken has more added sugars from pineapple juice, ketchup, etc. Sesame chicken’s sweetness comes more from honey or hoisin.
In the end, diners choosing between the two dishes should consider their cravings for flavor over minor differences in nutritional value.
Calorie Comparison
| Dish | Calories (per serving) |
|---|---|
| Sweet and Sour Chicken | 650-800 |
| Sesame Chicken | 800-1000 |
Popularity and Availability
In terms of popularity:
- Sweet and sour chicken is one of the most popular Chinese dishes in the U.S. and is widely available at Chinese-American restaurants.
- Sesame chicken is also very popular but may be served primarily at more authentic Northern Chinese or American-Chinese fusion restaurants rather than take-out joints.
So while both dishes are favorites, sweet and sour chicken tends to be more mainstream while sesame chicken is seen as a bit more gourmet or niche.
Google Search Popularity
| Dish | Google Search Volume |
|---|---|
| Sweet and Sour Chicken | 246,000 searches per month |
| Sesame Chicken | 165,000 searches per month |
This table compares Google search volume showing sweet and sour chicken outpacing sesame chicken in popularity.
Uses in Cuisine
In terms of uses in cooking:
- Sweet and sour chicken is considered more of a staple main dish, often served with plain white rice.
- Sesame chicken can be used as an appetizer or main dish, and goes well over rice or noodles.
- The thinner sweet and sour sauce soaks into rice better, while thick sesame sauce sits nicely on top of rice, noodles, or veggies.
- Sesame chicken is also popularly used in fusion dishes like wraps, tacos, pizza toppings, salads, and sandwiches.
So sesame chicken may have more versatility and appeal in fusion cooking, while sweet and sour chicken remains a simple Chinese takeout classic.
Regional Differences
There are some regional differences as well:
- Sweet and sour chicken is widely available across the U.S. due to the pan-Chinese nature of many American Chinese restaurants.
- Sesame chicken is especially popular in areas with more Mandarin/North Chinese cuisine like California and New York City.
- Some chefs in China would not recognize American-style sweet & sour or sesame chicken dishes as truly Chinese.
So while both dishes are considered Chinese-American fare, sesame chicken is rooted in specific Northern Chinese flavors, while sweet and sour transcends regional Chinese cuisine.
Most Popular Regions
| Dish | Most Popular Regions in U.S. |
|---|---|
| Sweet and Sour Chicken | Ubiquitous nationwide |
| Sesame Chicken | New York, California, Washington D.C. |
This table shows how sweet & sour chicken is popular across America, while sesame chicken is concentrated in key metro areas.
Cost Differences
There are also some cost differences between the dishes:
- Sweet and sour chicken is generally cheaper to make since the ingredients are common pantry staples.
- Sesame chicken relies on more specialty Asian ingredients like hoisin sauce, chili paste, sesame oil, which can be pricier.
- However, restaurants may charge more for sesame chicken since it is considered a specialty dish.
- Wholesale sesame seeds and chicken thighs in mass quantities can help lower costs for commercial sesame chicken.
So homemade sweet and sour chicken may be more budget-friendly. But in restaurants, the cost difference depends on pricing strategies.
Average Cost Comparison
| Dish | Average Cost to Make at Home | Average Takeout Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet and Sour Chicken | $6-10 for 4 servings | $7-12 for quart container |
| Sesame Chicken | $10-15 for 4 servings | $8-15 for quart container |
This table compares estimated costs for homemade vs takeout versions, showing sesame chicken is generally a bit pricier.
Ease of Preparation
In terms of ease of preparation and cooking:
- Sweet and sour chicken is generally simpler, with just chicken frying, sauce making, and tossing together at the end.
- Sesame chicken requires extra sautéing step after frying to coat chicken in sauce before serving.
- The sesame sauce also has more ingredients to combine compared to quick pantry staples for sweet and sour.
- However, neither dish is overly complex for an intermediate home cook to prepare.
So sweet and sour chicken has a slight edge for quick assembly and fewer ingredients to wrangle.
Preparation and Cooking Time
| Dish | Prep Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet and Sour Chicken | 10-15 minutes | 15-20 minutes | 30-45 minutes |
| Sesame Chicken | 15-20 minutes | 20-25 minutes | 45-60 minutes |
This table illustrates how sesame chicken takes a bit more active cooking time compared to the quicker sweet & sour dish.
Pairings with Other Dishes
Sweet & sour chicken and sesame chicken pair well with some complementary side dishes:
- Both dishes are commonly served with steamed white rice or fried rice to balance the sauces.
- Sweet and sour chicken goes nicely with chicken fried rice, egg rolls, crab rangoon.
- Sesame chicken pairs well with vegetable stir fries, egg drop soup, pan fried noodles.
- For a shared meal, mixing dishes like sesame chicken, sweet and sour pork, garlic broccoli provides balance.
Overall both sauced chicken dishes combine nicely with carb-heavy sides and vegetable dishes to create a satisfying meal.
Substitutions and Variations
There are many possible substitutions and variations for both dishes:
Sweet and Sour Chicken Substitutions
- Chicken can be swapped for pork, shrimp, or tofu.
- Onions, carrots, bell peppers can be substituted with other vegetables.
- Pineapple can be swapped for mango, apple, or dried fruit.
- Rice vinegar, ketchup, sugar can adjust sweet/sour ratio.
Sesame Chicken Substitutions
- Chicken can be swapped for boneless thigh, shrimp, or extra firm tofu.
- Alternative nut and seed butters like almond or sunflower seed butter work.
- Adjust chili paste, brown sugar, and soy/rice vinegar for spicy, sweet, salty flavors.
- Substitute alternative nut and seed mixes like peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds.
The core concepts remain intact with ingredient tweaks to accommodate preferences and allergies.
Health Benefits
While both dishes are high in sodium from soy sauce, some potential health benefits include:
- Protein from the chicken, eggs, and seeds/nuts (in sesame chicken).
- Fiber from green bell peppers, carrots, pineapple, onions, sesame seeds.
- Vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium from the fresh vegetables.
- Iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium from seeds/nuts and chicken.
- Antioxidants from ingredients like pineapple, chili paste, and sesame seeds.
Moderate portions accompanied by rice and veggies can make the dishes more balanced. Overall, sesame chicken likely edges out sweet and sour slightly for nutritional value thanks to the seeds and use of chili paste.
Conclusion
In summary, while sweet and sour chicken and sesame chicken appear similar as Chinese chicken entrees in sauce, they have distinct differences in terms of flavors, ingredients, preparation, and origins. Sesame chicken has a more complex umami flavor profile compared to the sweeter, fruitier taste of sweet and sour sauce. Sweet and sour chicken is faster to make and more mainstream Americanized Chinese fare. But foodies may appreciate sesame chicken for its gourmet, specialty appeal. Both dishes can provide relatively healthy meals when enjoyed in moderation as part of a vegetable and whole grain inclusive diet.
Craving Chinese but undecided between these two saucy chicken classics? Consider sweet and sour chicken for nights when you want something quick and mainstream comforting. Opt for sesame chicken when aiming for something more gourmet and packed with savory nutty flavors. Either way, you can’t go wrong with these tasty chicken creations that have become classics of American Chinese cuisine.