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Cashew Chicken

Easy Cashew Chicken Recipe: Quick Stir-Fry for Delicious Flavor

This Cashew Chicken recipe promises a delicious stir-fry that marries sweet and savory flavors in a snap!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 340

Ingredients
  

Chicken and Marinade
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon neutral oil
  • 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup low sodium chicken stock (or homemade)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
Vegetables and Cashews
  • 3 tablespoons neutral oil (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup scallions, chopped
  • 1/2 cup water chestnuts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
  • 1 cup unsalted cashews, roasted (at 350°F for 5 mins)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (mixed with 2 tablespoons water)

Equipment

  • wok
  • mixing bowl

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Mix the chicken, cornstarch, 3 tablespoons water, neutral oil, and oyster sauce until all the liquid has been absorbed by the chicken. In a separate bowl, mix together all the sauce ingredients.
  2. Heat your wok over high heat until just smoking. Spread 2 tablespoons of neutral oil along the perimeter of the wok.
  3. Add the marinated chicken breast, spreading the pieces evenly in the wok. Fry for 1 minute on each side, and transfer back to the bowl.
  4. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the wok, along with the ginger, and fry for 5 seconds before adding the garlic. Immediately add the red bell pepper, scallions, and water chestnuts. Stir fry for 30 seconds.
  5. Spread the Shaoxing wine around the perimeter of the wok. Stir fry everything for 10 seconds.
  6. Pour in the sauce mixture, using your wok spatula to deglaze the sides of the wok. Add the chicken and any juices that may have collected in the bowl. Once everything comes to a simmer, add the roasted cashews.
  7. Stir up your cornstarch slurry, and add about 3/4 of it to the stir-fry. Adjust the thickness of the sauce with the remaining slurry as desired.
  8. Bring to a simmer, and continue stirring to thicken the sauce and combine everything evenly. Plate and serve immediately with steamed rice!

Nutrition

Serving: 6servingsCalories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 22gFat: 20gSodium: 557mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7g

Notes

This recipe delivers restaurant-quality results using simple ingredients. Feel free to customize it with different proteins or vegetables for a personal touch.

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