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Chef John’s Cashew Chicken

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Chef John’s Cashew Chicken is a quick stir-style dish that transforms leftover or freshly cooked chicken into a flavorful meal with a tangy-sweet sauce, crunchy cashews, and aromatic ginger, garlic, and chiles. Perfect with rice and ready in 30 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked or grilled boneless, skinless chicken, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1–2 tsp Asian chile pepper sauce (such as sambal oelek, adjust to taste)
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 fresh red chile pepper, sliced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger root, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup dry-roasted cashews
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Season chicken cubes with salt and pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk water and cornstarch until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, rice vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, and chile pepper sauce until sugar dissolves.
  3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil, red chile slices, and ginger. Cook about 2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Add cashews and garlic, cooking another 2 minutes until cashews are lightly golden and garlic is fragrant.
  5. Toss in chicken briefly to coat with aromatics, about 30 seconds.
  6. Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in sauce mixture and stir constantly until it thickens, about 30 seconds. Add a splash of water if too thick.
  7. Simmer for 2 minutes to heat chicken through and meld flavors.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in cilantro just until wilted.
  9. Serve immediately over steamed rice.

Notes

Use freshly cooked chicken if you don’t have leftovers.Add vegetables such as bell peppers, snap peas, or broccoli for extra nutrition.Adjust spice level by increasing or reducing chile pepper sauce.Cashews can be swapped for peanuts or almonds, though flavor will differ.For a citrusy twist, add a splash of orange juice with the lemon.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookibly.com/chef-johns-cashew-chicken/