25-Min Cashew Chicken Recipe

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 replace 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

1. 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.

2. Make the sauce:

• In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil, chicken stock, and cornstarch slurry.

3. 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.

4. 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 tenderize 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