Feeling like Chinese for dinner but don’t want to pay restaurant prices? Cashew chicken is a simple dish to make at home and is delicious served over rice with a side of steamed edamame. If you don’t have Hoisin sauce, chili paste, and rice vinegar in your cabinet, you can find all of these in most grocery stores in the Asian food aisle. From start to finish, you can have this recipe for cashew chicken on your dinner table in only 30 minutes.
A quick tip: Do you know how to pick a sweeter sweet onion? Flatter, sweet onions are much more mild than dense, round onions. The more tennis-ball shaped it is, the more tears you can expect when slicing it. If onions make you cry, go for the ones that look stepped on.
Ingredients for cashew chicken:
- 1 1/2 pounds to TBS boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ground fresh chili paste
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small sweet onion, slice into one-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons of pre-minced garlic
- 6 green onions, chopped
- A handful of fresh chives (about 1/2 of the package from the grocery store), chopped
- 3/4 cup of unsalted, roasted whole cashews
- 4-6 cups of cooked white rice
Directions:
- Start cooking the rice according to the package’s directions.
- Whisk together the Hoisin sauce, chili paste, 1/2 tablespoon of pre-minced garlic, and 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Set aside for later.
- Use a large bowl to toss the cubed chicken in the cornstarch. Ensure the chicken is coated well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss more.
- Use a large, non-stick frying pan. A deep dish-style pan works well for this. Heat the olive oil on medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add the chicken to the pan. Saute the chicken for 8-10 minutes until browned and cooked. Toss frequently, so the pieces cook evenly.
- Add the sweet onion and cook until it becomes translucent. Continue to mix frequently. Add the green onions, chives, and garlic and continue to saute for another minute.
- Pour the rice vinegar into the pan and deglaze it if needed. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Pour in the Hoisin sauce mixture. Toss the contents to combine well.
- After a few minutes, add the cashews and mix everything well.
- Serve in bowls over the rice.
Stop buying old meat from the grocery store.
Why purchase meat and produce from a grocery store that comes from who knows where? We have such excellent, fresh meat and produce available to us locally! The Butcher Shop is your one-stop-shop for locally sourced meats and produce from farms right here in Southern Oregon. At TBS, you’ll find the perfect cut of meat for your meal, plus fresh-baked loaves of bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, local wine and beers, and even quality food specifically for your canine. Stop by today or call ahead to pre-order your ingredients.