recipe for making cashew chicken at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb (about 500g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup unsalted cashew nuts
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 carrot, julienned
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 3 green onions, chopped (white and green parts separated)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening the sauce)
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, mix the chicken pieces with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a pinch of pepper. Let it marinate for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Toast the cashews: In a dry pan, toast the cashew nuts over medium heat until they are lightly browned and fragrant. Set them aside.
- Stir-fry the chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until it’s cooked through and browned. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Stir-fry the vegetables: In the same pan, add another tablespoon of oil if needed. Add garlic, ginger, and the white parts of the green onions. Stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add broccoli, bell pepper, and carrot. Stir-fry for an additional 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Combine everything: Return the cooked chicken to the pan with the vegetables. Add the toasted cashews and toss everything together.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables. If you want a thicker sauce, you can mix in a teaspoon of cornstarch with a little water and add it to the pan.
- Finish and serve: Stir everything together until well coated and heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Sprinkle the green parts of the green onions on top.
- Serve: Serve the cashew chicken over steamed rice or noodles.
Enjoy your homemade cashew chicken!
