Cashew chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish that features chicken, cashew nuts, and vegetables in a savory sauce. Here’s a simple recipe for making Cashew Chicken at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup roasted cashew nuts
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening the sauce)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Green onions, chopped, for garnish
Instructions:
- Marinate the Chicken:
- In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Let it marinate for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Prepare the Sauce:
- In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, oyster sauce, and hoisin sauce. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add cornstarch to the mixture.
- Cook the Chicken:
- Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until it’s fully cooked and browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Stir-Fry Vegetables:
- In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed. Stir in garlic and ginger until fragrant.
- Add broccoli and bell peppers to the pan and stir-fry until the vegetables are slightly tender but still crisp.
- Combine Chicken, Vegetables, and Sauce:
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan with the vegetables.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables, tossing everything together until well-coated and heated through.
- Add Cashews:
- Finally, add the roasted cashew nuts to the pan and stir until they are evenly distributed.
- Serve:
- Garnish with chopped green onions.
- Serve the Cashew Chicken over rice or noodles.
Feel free to customize the recipe based on your preferences. You can add other vegetables like snap peas, carrots, or water chestnuts for additional flavor and texture. Adjust the level of spiciness by adding crushed red pepper flakes or chili sauce if desired. Enjoy your homemade Cashew Chicken!
