Sesame and Coconut Crusted Turkey Strips with Pineapple Plum Sauce

These delicious turkey strips come from the Podleski sisters, Janet and Greta who have co-authored several cookbooks, including their latest, The Looneyspoons Collection.  This is a recipe I have been meaning to try for a while and I was glad I did.  You can see in the photo below that I served it with homemade french fries and broccoli salad.

 Ingredients:

Marinade

1 egg

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless turkey breasts, cut into strips

Coating

2/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

2 Tb. sesame seeds

1/2 cup dry unseasoned bread crumbs (I used gluten-free bread crumbs)

1/4 tsp. salt, garlic powder, and onion powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Sauce
1/2 cup plum sauce
1/3 cup unsweetened frozen pineapple juice concentrate, thawed
1 1/2 tsp. each yellow mustard and cornstarch

In a large bowl, whisk together egg, 1/4 cup hoisin sauce and 1 tsp. sesame oil.  Add turkey strips and toss to coat with marinade.  Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes (or longer if possible).

Meanwhile, place 2/3 cup coconut and 2 Tb. sesame seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat.  Cook until golden brown, stirring frequently.  Be careful not to burn them! 

Transfer toasted coconut and sesame seeds to a small pie plate or shallow dish and let cool.  Add 1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs (can use gluten-free), 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. garlic powder, 1/4 tsp. onion powder, 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper.  Mix well and set aside.

Prepare sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in a small pot.  Cook over medium heat until sauce is bubbly and thickened.  Keep warm.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Working one piece at a time, shake excess marinade from turkey strips and roll in crumb mixture.  Make sure strips are well coated with crumbs.

Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper.  Spray tops of strips with a light coating of cooking spray.  Bake on middle oven rack for 6 minutes.  Remove from oven and gently turn pieces over.  Spray other side with a light coating of cooking spray.  Return to oven and bake for about 4 more minutes, until coating is lightly browned and turkey is cooked through. 

Serve strips with warm dipping sauce.  Enjoy!