1lb.organic chicken tenderloinscut into inch-long pieces (can sub with cauliflower)
2large eggs
1cupextra-fine almond flour
½cuprice flourbrown or white, but not sweet
½teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoonsea salt
¼teaspoonbaking powder
½teaspoonground black pepperoptional
avocado oil cooking sprayolive oil is also okay
1organic serrano pepperoptional
1teaspoonsesame oil
3large cloves garlic
1teaspoonfresh ginger puree
⅓cupchicken brothhomemade, if possible
2Tablespoonssherry wineuse a wine wand for 10 minutes; alt. 2 Tablespoons tamarind juice
3Tablespoonsapple cider vinegar
¼cupcoconut aminos
1TablespoonumeboshiJapanese plum paste*
2Tablespoonsreal honeymake sure it's not adulterated!
2teaspoonsarrowroot starch
3tablespoonswater
¼cupchopped chives
1Tablespoonroasted sesame seeds
Instructions
Wash & chop serrano pepper, and mince garlic.
Put chopped pepper in pan over medium-low heat, and dry-cook for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, measure 2 Tablespoons of sherry wine out, and then use a wine wand in the mixture for at least ten minutes, stirring gently whenever you remember to.
Add sesame oil and garlic, and sauté for 3 more minutes, when garlic is just starting to brown.
While the mixture sautés, mix together the broth, apple cider vinegar, sherry wine, coconut aminos, umeboshi, honey, black pepper, and ginger puree. Once the garlic starts to brown, add in the vinegar mixture.
Stir everything together for 30 seconds, and then let it cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the sauce is lightly boiling, turn the temp fully to low. Mix 2 teaspoons of arrowroot starch with 2 Tablespoons of water until they form a slurry. Add the slurry to your sauce and combine well, until the mixture has thickened.
Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400°F/205°C for 5 minutes. Crack your eggs into a small bowl, and then blend them until they're a light yellow color. Measure out your almond flour, rice flour, garlic powder, sea salt, and baking powder into a separate bowl, mixing them until well-combined.
Dip each of your chicken tenders into the egg, and then into the almond flour and line the dredged tenders up on a plate while the air fryer preheats. Once the fryer is ready, spray it with cooking spray, and then line up the tenders in a single layer and cook at 400°F/205°C for 3-4 minutes on each side, until lightly browned.
Once cooked, toss your air-fried chicken or cauliflower in the sauce until coated, then sprinkle tops with toasted sesame seeds and chopped chives. Serve with a side of steamed veggies & enjoy!
Notes
PLUM PASTE. *Umeboshiis a fermented food, but it's also been studied as an active anti-histamine, and found to have little residual histamine according to some studies.OTHER INGREDIEINTS. If you can't tolerate any of these ingredients, you can change the type of meat, but there isn't much you can do with many of these ingredients, which are themselves substitutions.FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS. As mentioned above, the sauce freezes beautifully, but if you want to freeze the tenders, I do recommend cooking them fully first. They'll stay good in the freezer for up to 6 months; to reheat them simply play in the oven or air fryer at 400°F/205°C for 5-7 minutes and enjoy.