Ultimate Sesame Coconut Chicken Fingers with Minty Yogurt Dip

Let’s be honest, sometimes being a dude blogger is tough.
The blogosphere is pretty much run by girls, moms, women.
Which is not a bad thing, at all. In fact, it is a very good thing, making the blogging world a kinder, more amiable place.
But there are certain topics - important to us, men - that are kinda off-limits in the blogosphere.
Such as consuming ridiculous amounts of cheap swill, farting in a crowded elevator, world’s loudest belcher, top drinking games, et cetera, et cetera. [Yes women of the world, though we look mature, we still think/act like kiddos — we haven’t grown up a bit!]
At the same time, we can’t talk about sparkles, rainbows, unicorns and glitter and expect to be taken seriously. We don’t have the knowledge to do it. Plus, we will subject ourselves to public humiliation and private doubt.

Which means that a dude blogger has a narrower number of topics to talk about.
Yet, I think that there are things I should discuss on my [dude] blog no matter what. Even if they’re not so...what’s the word I’m looking for...female-appealing.
Like football.
Football is important to (most) men in a way that nothing else is — the aggression and the warlike strategy of attacking and defending ground top the list, followed by its stature as a beer and chicken fingers-consumption opportunity.
I will go far as saying that football is to men what Sex&TheCity + Scandal + GreysAnatomy is to (most) women.
That's why I feel it's my duty to talk about it.


And I’m not gonna lie to you, men actually do appreciate women that can have a conversation about football. Who know what the hell is going on during a play rather asking us to explain what is happening.
Such as what is the line of scrimmage — spelled s-c-r-i-m-mage not s-c-r-e-a-m-mage, no one’s screaming on the football field.
Or what it means to get the tight end involved in the game plan.
Women that do not comment on which team wears “the better outfit” (which is a uniform btw) or don't say “I feel bad for the kicker, he must feel really bad!”
But if you’re not into football, you don’t have to pretend it to be, it-doesn’t-really-matter. That’s what football friends are for.

Just fuel the armchair athletes with their favorite game-watching grub, and I swear, they are gonna love you even more than if you watch the game with them.
Or better yet, you can show them how to make their own fave game-day food. Self-sufficiency is important.
Let’s take these chicken fingers for instance.
I can't think of an easier recipe to prepare than this.
Anyone - including my dad, my 6-year old niece and probably even my now-dead goldfish - can make these chicken fingers happen. It’s so easy.
There’s just some dipping and rolling involved, then let the oven do the rest.
And BOOM!

The ultimate chicken fingers.
See that, right there? An amazing sesame coconut crust, packed with so much flavor, you barely even need the dipping sauce (which, btw, it's delish so yes you totally need it!)

This is like perfect game-day food. So perfect, you should actually make it every day. Football or no football.

Ultimate Sesame Coconut Chicken Fingers with Minty Yogurt Dip            Print this recipe!
Inspired by, and adapted from TheHealthyFoodie

Ingredients
Serves 6 as an appetizer

Chicken Fingers

2 large free-range chicken breasts (about 1 lb), cut into strips
1 cup / 4.3 oz / 112 gr almond flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
½ cup 1.5 oz / 42 gr unsweetened shredded coconut
4 tablespoons arrowroot powder*
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 free-range organic eggs
3 tablespoons olive oil

Minty Yogurt Dip

1 container (7 oz / 200 gr) plain Greek yogurt
4 sprigs fresh mint
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
½ garlic clove, smashed
½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
Ground black pepper to taste

*arrowroot powder acts like cornstarch.

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and place a rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl whisk the eggs. Set aside.
In a separate large bowl, whisk almond flour, shredded coconut, arrowroot powder, mustard, paprika, cayenne pepper, sesame seeds, salt and black pepper.
Dip chicken strips in the eggs and let excess drip off, then drop in the almond flour mix bowl to coat on all sides. Place coated chicken strips onto the lined baking sheet and repeat until all chicken is used.
Drizzle with olive oil, place in the oven and bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes. Flip halfway through the cooking time.
In the meantime make the minty yogurt dip. Pick and finely chop the mint leaves, discarding the stalks.
In a bowl combine yogurt, chopped mint, lemon zest, lemon juice, smashed garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.
When chicken strips are ready, allow to cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet and then serve with the dipping sauce.

Nutrition facts

One serving yields 337 calories, 23 grams of fat, 11 grams of carbs and 25 grams of protein.