This post Cashew Chicken has been updated in 2022.
Get off the take-out menu. This Cashew Chicken is a recipe that truly stacks up to your favourite Chinese takeout. And it’s incredibly EASY, quick and simple Make it!
A Stir-fry chicken with cashewsThis is a wonderful combination of flavors. You’ll love how saucy this is, and how you can adapt this to your taste by using vegetables of choice. Try this with Hot and Sour Soup or Chinese Corn Soup with a side of Fried Rice for a homemade takeout experience!
Cashew chicken
This is home-cooked takeout. It’s comparable to the best Chinese restaurant in town. This is not a scam! Look at the glowing testimonials from those who have tried this product. 😇
You’ll have it on the table faster than ordering home delivery, it’s healthier (WayIt’s also less oily! and it’s versatile so you can add or switch the vegetables as you please. So much easier to just adapt this yourself rather than trying to explain what you want over the phone to your Chinese takeout place…… right?? 😉
Chinese Cooking Wine is the key ingredient
Chinese Wine for Cooking, also known as Shaoxing wine Or Shaosing wine, The secret ingredientThis makes homemade Chinese food taste just as good as take-out.
It’s an alcoholic wine used for Chinese and other Asian cooking. Totally unpleasant to drink, salty, cheap as chips from Asian stores (~ $1.50 for a big bottle), lasts forever and you can read more about it here (if you’re so inclined).
While you’d never drink it straight, when used cooking, it completely transforms. It seasons the sauce, gives it depth of flavour and complexity, that “something something” to make it just like Chinese restaurants.
Substitutions for Shaoxing wine
Mirin is the best alternative. Or dry sherry – these produce virtually the same result. If you can’t consume alcohol, the best alternative is to substitute low sodium chicken broth for the water in the sauce.
Ingredients in Cashew Chicken
I said it would be quick and easy. There’s not that many ingredients in the sauce (see photo above) nor in the stir fry itself (see below).
I love to use Chicken thigh for stir fries because it’s juicier than breast and tenderloin. This recipe is made with chicken breast. tenderise itBaking soda (bicarb) is used to make a Chinese-style restaurant. It’s super simple, see directions here: How to Velvet Chicken.
Cashew Chicken I make withBell peppers and green capsicum are two examples. because they are the most common vegetables I’ve seen in Cashew Chicken. But Feel free to add any other vegetables into the recipe. I’ve also seen it with red capsicum, celery, Asian Greens, broccoli, carrots and scallions/shallots.
Cashew Chicken
Cashew Chicken can be made quickly and is also very easy to cook (especially if you use chicken breast).
Mix the sauce, and let the chicken marinate for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the vegetables, have a glass of wine, browse through the Asian Takeout recipe collection and think about all the other things you want to try one of these days…😊
When you’re ready to cook, have everything ready to go because it It takes less than five minutes Sauté garlic and onion (1 min), cook chicken and capsicum (3 min), add sauce, simmer 1 minute until thickens, serve over rice.
Like all my stir fries this Cashew Chicken comes along with Plenty of sauce. There’s nothing sadder than when you’re left with a bowl of plain white rice with no sauce to eat it with. Right??!
Hope you enjoy! – Nagi x
PS Healthy low-carb option try Cauliflower Rice – 77% fewer calories and 87% less carbs than rice!
Chinese Cashew Chicken
How to make it
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Chinese Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch/cornflour
- 3 tbsp soy sauce , All-purpose or Light (Note 1
- 1 1/2 tbsp Mirin, a Chinese cooking wine (Note 2)
- 3 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tsp Sesame oil
- A dash of white pepper (sub black)
Stir Fry
- 500g / 1 Lb Chicken thigh Skinless and boneless. Cut into 2.5 cm/1″ pieces. (Note 3).
- 2 tbsp Peanut oil (or vegetable oils)
- 2 Garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 Onion Cut into pieces of 1.75 cm / 3/4″ (yellow, brown, or white).
- 1 green capsicum/bell pepper Cut into 2 cm/0.8″ pieces
- 6 tbsp Water
- 3/4 Cup Roasted cashews Unsalted
Instructions
-
Sauce:Combine cornflour with soy sauce until you have no lumps. Add the remaining Sauce ingredients to the bowl and mix.
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Marinate: Add 2 tablespoons Sauce to the chicken. Mix to coat. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.
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Cook: Oil can be heated on high heat in a skillet or wok. Cook the onion and garlic for about 1 minute.
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Add the chicken and cook for 2 min. Cook for 1 minute.
-
Add Sauce and water. Stir until Sauce thickens.
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Add cashews to the mixture and stir. Serve immediately with rice or Cauliflower Rice if you prefer a low carb, high cal option.
Recipe Notes
2. Shaoxing Wine is a Chinese Cooking WineSubmit with Mirin (or dry sherry) for near perfect subs Use low sodium chicken broth instead of the Sauce and the water.
3. ChickenThis is a dish I prefer to make with thigh, however it can be done with breast or tenderloin. Option to tenderize breasts using the Chinese method, so that it is super tender and juicy. How to tenderize chicken in the Chinese way (Velveting).
4. Remaining food The fridge will keep for up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing sauces that are thickened with cornflour/cornstarch. If frozen, they can become watery. The flavour of the sauce is just as good, if not thickened.
5. NutritionEach serving includes rice. It will easily serve 5 to 6 people, with additional sides as it is often served in Chinese restaurants.
Nutrition Information:
Original publication October 2015. Original publication October 2015. Updated post with updated photos and video. Life of Dozer section added. Recipe unchanged.
Chinese Takeout Favorites
- Chow Mein
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General Tso’s Chicken
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Pork with a sweet and sour flavor
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Crispy Honey Chicken
- Beef & Broccoli
- Chop Suey (Chicken Stir Fry)
- Spring Rolls
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Prawn (Shrimp) Stir Fry
- Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu)
- Check out ALL Chinese takeout recipes
Dozer life
Wow, it’s true. With glasses, you can make any person look smart. 🤓
