Description
Cashew Chicken is a delicious and flavorful stir-fry dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces cooked with crunchy cashew nuts and vibrant vegetables in a savory-sweet sauce. This quick and easy family favorite comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner served over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cashew nuts
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Sauce and Coating
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup honey
Cooking Oil
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Sauce Mixture: In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, chicken broth, and honey. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss thoroughly to coat each piece with the sauce.
- Heat the Skillet: Place a large skillet over high heat and add the vegetable oil, heating it until hot but not smoking.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the sauce-coated chicken pieces to the hot skillet. Cook them until they are browned on all sides and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, add the sliced bell pepper, onion, and minced garlic. Sauté until the vegetables become softened and aromatic, about 3-4 minutes.
- Simmer with Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour in the remaining sauce mixture and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients well.
- Add Cashews: Stir in the cashew nuts and cook for an additional 1 minute to warm through and blend flavors.
- Serve: Serve the cashew chicken immediately over steamed rice or noodles for a complete and hearty meal.
Notes
- To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with thighs for a juicier texture.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of honey to your taste.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings.
- Toast cashews beforehand for extra crunch and flavor if desired.
