Cashew Chicken (Easy Take Out Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Cashew Chicken - Delicious and easy cashew chicken recipe with tender and silky chicken in Chinese brown sauce. Homemade is so much better than takeout.

Cashew Chicken (Easy Take Out Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

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Chinese Cashew Chicken

There are many recipes online, but I am going to teach you the best homemade and authentic Chinese cashew chicken recipe that tastes just like takeout from the best Chinese restaurants.

The secret to becoming an expert on this recipe lies in the silky velveting techniques of the chicken and the sauce. Master those and you won’t need takeout again, believe me.

Cashew Chicken (Easy Take Out Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

Other Recipes You Might Like

  • Thai Cashew Chicken
  • Honey Cashew Chicken
  • Spicy Cashew Chicken

How to Make Cashew Chicken “silky”

If you have been to a good Chinese restaurant, you would notice that the chicken is extremely tender and silky smooth – almost velvety. Yes, most Chinese chefs “treat” the chicken with baking soda.

Baking soda removes the potential “meaty” odor from the meat and tenderizes at the same time (learn all about it in my Cook’s Note). Pairing the velvety chicken with crunchy cashew nuts adds texture and tastes absolutely delicious.

Cashew Chicken (Easy Take Out Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (4)

Cashew Chicken Sauce

What kind of sauce is used? Like most Chinese stir-fry, the sauce is a Chinese brown sauce that is made of oyster sauce, soy sauce, water (or chicken broth) and sugar.

For authentic flavors, sesame oil, ground white pepper and Chinese rice wine are also used to make the sauce. Lastly, corn starch is added to thicken up this traditional sauce.

Cashew Chicken (Easy Take Out Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (5)

Tips for the Best Cashew Chicken

  • Use chicken breasts for the best result.
  • Do not skimp on the cashews – include loads of cashew nuts.
  • The brown sauce is the soul of this dish, so get the best quality Chinese soy sauce and oyster sauce.
  • Add red or green bell peppers and cook in a wok or skillet. Make some steamed rice to go with it and you don’t need Chinese takeout ever again!

How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 515 calories per serving.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

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Cashew Chicken

Cashew Chicken - crazy delicious and easy cashew chicken recipe with tender and silky chicken in Chinese brown sauce. Homemade is so much better than takeout, and it's perfect for busy weeknights.

4.86 from 14 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 2 people

Prep 20 minutes mins

Cook 5 minutes mins

Total 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 10 oz (280g) boneless and skinless chicken breast (cut into small cubes)
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 5 slices peeled ginger
  • 1 small red or green bell pepper (cut into small squares)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted cashew nuts

Marinade:

  • 1 teaspoon corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon Chinese rice wine (optional)

Sauce:

  • 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 3/4 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 3 dashes ground white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice wine (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch

Instructions

  • Rinse the chicken breast with cold water, pat dry with paper towels. Cut the chicken into cubes and marinate with corn starch and rice wine (if using). Mix all the ingredients for the Sauce together. Set aside.

  • Heat up a wok or skillet with 1 tablespoon of the oil and stir-fry the chicken until they turn white (not bot completely cooked). Dish out and set aside.

  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil into the wok or skillet and add the ginger and bell pepper. Stir-fry until you smell the peppery aroma from the peppers, then add the chicken back in. Stir in theSauce and toss and stir fry continuously until the chicken is cooked and the sauce thickens. Add salt to taste.

  • Add the cashew nuts and do a few quick stirs. Dish out and serve immediately with steamed rice.

Notes

To make the chicken extremely tender like Chinese restaurants, you may use 1 tablespoon of baking soda to tenderize the chicken. In a bowl, add the baking soda to the chicken. Use a spoon to mix well so the baking soda coats the chicken evenly. Leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing the chicken off with cold water. Make sure you rinse the chicken well so there is no residue on the chicken. Pat dry with paper towels before marinating with corn starch and rice wine.

Course: Chinese Recipes

Cuisine: Chicken

Keywords: Cashew Chicken

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Cashew Chicken

Amount Per Serving (2 people)

Calories 515Calories from Fat 306

% Daily Value*

Fat 34g52%

Saturated Fat 15g94%

Cholesterol 91mg30%

Sodium 421mg18%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 37g74%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Cashew Chicken (Easy Take Out Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What country is cashew chicken from? ›

Many people might think of cashew chicken as a Chinese dish, and indeed China is where this dish originated. You can tell by the presence of sesame oil, which we don't use very much of in Thai cooking.

How many calories are in cashew chicken takeout? ›

Energy: 384 calories
Protein29.2g
Carbs17.5g
Fat20.9g

How was cashew chicken invented? ›

David Leong, founder of Leong's Asian Diner, created the recipe to draw more customers into the restaurant – which was called Leong's Tea House at the time. Blending flavors and traditions of the Ozarks with those of his Cantonese heritage, he whipped up the first batch in 1963.

What is cashew chicken Kew? ›

Traditional cashew chicken

The traditional version of cashew chicken is stir-fried in a wok. Tender chunks of chicken are combined with crispy roasted cashews, vegetables and are tossed in a light sauce made from garlic, soy sauce and hoisin sauce, thinned with water.

What is Chinese cashew chicken made of? ›

Typically, Chinese cashew chicken sauce is made with cashews (obviously), and a sauce made with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, honey, ginger, and Asian chili garlic sauce.

Which country consumes the most cashews? ›

Other Leading Cashew Nut Consumers

India takes the lead in terms of cashew nut consumption, with other countries also showing considerable demand for this nutritionally rich nut. Notable consumers include the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands.

What is healthiest Chinese food to order? ›

13 Healthiest Chinese Food Takeout Options
  • Chicken and broccoli. ...
  • Baked salmon. ...
  • Happy family. ...
  • Buddha's delight. ...
  • Moo shu vegetables. ...
  • Eggplant with garlic sauce. ...
  • Kung pao chicken. ...
  • Shrimp with lobster sauce. Despite its name, shrimp with lobster sauce does not actually contain lobster.

Is cashew chicken high in carbs? ›

Cashew chicken (1 cup) contains 12.3g total carbs, 10.7g net carbs, 18.5g fat, 25.2g protein, and 312 calories.

What's the difference between cashew chicken and Springfield cashew chicken? ›

That's how popular it is. Unlike the more ubiquitous cashew chicken you'll find in Chinese restaurants across the United States, the Springfield version features boneless chunks of chicken that have been breaded, fried and smothered in brown gravy.

What restaurant invented cashew chicken? ›

Wing Yee cooking at Leong's Asian Diner, the Springfield restaurant where his father invented cashew chicken in 1963. David Leong's signature dish features bite-sized morsels of juicy chicken, fried and smothered in a rich brown sauce.

What is the difference between kung pao chicken and cashew chicken? ›

The distinguishing characteristics between the two is that kung pao chicken is spicy, contains peanuts, and is often made with onions and bell peppers. Cashew chicken has a sweeter sauce tossed with roasted cashews, as well as water chestnuts, celery, or bell peppers.

What's the difference between almond chicken and cashew chicken? ›

More popularly, “almond chicken” in America's wide swath of Chinese-American restaurants would mean a version of cashew chicken, a dish of diced poultry, stir-fried with vegetables and cashews and then topped with toasted almonds; elsewhere, the chicken would be appropriately breaded, fried, and almond-topped, but ...

Why is Chinese chicken so tender? ›

In Chinese cooking, proteins like beef, pork or chicken are velveted first before stir-frying them. There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts.

What is inside hoisin sauce? ›

Though regional variations exist, most modern hoisin sauce recipes contain some combination of the following ingredients: fermented soybeans, five-spice powder, garlic, red chili peppers, and sugar. "Hoisin" comes from the Cantonese word for seafood, though it's not commonly associated with seafood dishes.

Is cashew chicken a missouri thing? ›

"Cashew chicken is selected for and shall be known as the official dish for the state of Missouri," the text of HB 1624 reads. "Deep-fried cashew chicken is now served in more than seventy restaurants in the Springfield area."

What is the history of chicken cashew nut? ›

Although Chicken with Cashew Nut is eaten frequently within Thailand, it did not originate there. It was invented in America by the chef David Leong, shortly after his move to the USA from China. It was first served in Springfield, at the Grove Supper Club, and was soon being prepared all over America.

What country is chicken balls from? ›

Chicken balls (Chinese: 鸡球; pinyin: jī qiú) are a type of modern Chinese food served in Canada, Ireland, United States, and the United Kingdom as a staple of Chinese take-out. The dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating.

Are cashews from Brazil? ›

Native from Brazil, cashew is a symbol of our tropical culture and influences our gastronomy in many ways.

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