Make the perfect cashew chicken with this step-by-step recipe, from marinating the chicken to making the tastiest sauce and stir-frying them to perfection. You only need 25 minutes!
Cashew Chicken Recipe
Serving: 2 to 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
For the chicken and marinade:
2 pounds chicken thighs, or replaced with chicken breast
Pinch of salt
Pinch of white pepper
1 tablespoon rice wine
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
1 egg white
1 tablespoon oil
For the sauce:
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon sesame oil
½ cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
For the stir-fried:
3 tablespoons oil, separated
3/4 cup raw cashews
½ teaspoon ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ large onion, cut into cubes
2 large red bell peppers, cut into cubes
4 stalks scallions, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
Cashew Chicken Instructions
To prepare the chicken:
- Begin by slicing the chicken thighs into approximately 1 ½-inch cubes and place them in a mixing bowl.
- First, add salt. Mix the chicken until it is fully absorbed with the salt. Next, incorporate the following ingredients: white pepper, rice wine, a cornstarch slurry (made of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons of water), egg white, and oil. Mix everything thoroughly. Marinate for at least 5 minutes.
To make the sauce:
- In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil, chicken stock, and cornstarch slurry.
To cook the cashews:
- In a wok over low heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and the raw cashews. Constantly stir-fry for about 2 minutes until light golden brown. Remove and set aside.
To stir-fry the cashew chicken:
- In the wok over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and the marinated chicken. Stir-fry for about 3 minutes until fully cooked. Then, add the minced ginger and garlic. Stir-fry until fragrant for about 10 seconds. Remove and set aside.
- In the wok over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Toss in the onion and red bell peppers. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds.
- Return the cooked chicken along with the sauce. Stir-fry everything together. Finish by adding the cashews and scallions, mixing everything once more before serving. Enjoy your meal!
Cashew Chicken Notes
Every ingredient in the marinade serves a specific purpose:
- Salt helps to break down the protein, specifically muscle fibers and collagen
- White pepper helps to reduce the gamey taste
- Rice wine also helps to reduce the gamey taste
- Egg white helps to tender the chicken
- Cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water) helps to seal the juice of the chicken inside
- Oil helps to seal the marinade and juice inside
Every ingredient in the sauce also serves a specific purpose:
- Soy sauce adds saltiness
- Dark soy sauce adds color
- Oyster sauce adds a rich umami taste
- Sugar adds a slight sweetness
- Sesame oil enhances nuttiness
- Chicken stock adds moisture
- Cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce
