Slow cooker Asian sesame chicken chili recipe

You know how people always say that time goes by too quickly?  We've got the perfect way to slow time right down.  Just put this fabulous recipe onto cook, let your house fill with the beautiful aroma of Asian spices, ginger, soy sauce, garlic and of course, chicken, and then see how quickly time goes by.  You could go for the speedier cooking option, but still, it's probably easier to leave the house, if only so that you get to return to that incredible smell.   

All of the Asian ingredients should be found on the shelves of your nearest big grocery store.  If you're not sure how much chili heat you want, then go steady at first, as you always add more hot stuff at any stage of the cooking.  Do try to use fresh garlic and ginger if you can as the flavor more than makes up the few extra minutes of prep time.  

2 pounds chicken breasts

Sauce ingredients
2-4 tablespoons Asian Sweet Chili Sauce
1/3 cup (80 ml) low sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup (80 ml) ketchup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar/soft brown sugar
2 tablespoons quality hoisin sauce like Lee Kum Kee or Kikkoman
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder (or 3-4 garlic cloves, minced)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder (or 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch/cornflour
1/4 cup (60 ml) water

toasted sesame seeds (to garnish)
chopped green onions (to garnish) 

1.  Place the chicken into your slow cooker and whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl then pour over the chicken and set to cook on low for 5-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

2.  At the end of this stage, remove the chicken and shred using two forks then set aside while you add 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water to the slow cooker.   

3.  Return the chicken to the sauce, stir, then cook on high for 20-30 minutes until the sauce thickens and serve. 

The simplicity and ease of this dish completely belies its complex and exciting flavor.  Feel free to add some hot chili sauce such as sriracha to dial up the heat, or a little additional brown sugar if you like to boost the sweetness.   Perfect served with white rice and garnished with the sesame seeds and green onions, a dish of plain steamed broccoli would be a great vegetable accompaniment.   Sadly, even a dish this good can't slow time down forever.  You'll find it speeds right back up again as soon as you start to eat!