Name: Chef John's Cashew Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: Grilled skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces - 2; Salt and ground black pepper to taste - 1 pinch; Cold water - ½ cup; Cornstarch - 1 tablespoon; Lemon, juiced - 1; Rice vinegar - 1 ½ tablespoons; Ketchup - 1 tablespoon; Soy sauce, or more to taste - 1 tablespoon; Packed brown sugar - 1 tablespoon; Asian chile pepper sauce (such as sambal oelek) - 2 teaspoons; Vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons; Fresh hot red chile pepper, sliced - 1; Thin slices fresh ginger root - 6; Dry-roasted cashews - ½ cup; Garlic, sliced - 2 cloves; Chopped cilantro - ¼ cup

Recipe information

Cooking:

20 min.

Servings per container:

Source:

More details

Ingredients for - Chef John's Cashew Chicken

1. Grilled skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces - 2

2. Salt and ground black pepper to taste - 1 pinch

3. Cold water - ½ cup

4. Cornstarch - 1 tablespoon

5. Lemon, juiced - 1

6. Rice vinegar - 1 ½ tablespoons

7. Ketchup - 1 tablespoon

8. Soy sauce, or more to taste - 1 tablespoon

9. Packed brown sugar - 1 tablespoon

10. Asian chile pepper sauce (such as sambal oelek) - 2 teaspoons

11. Vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons

12. Fresh hot red chile pepper, sliced - 1

13. Thin slices fresh ginger root - 6

14. Dry-roasted cashews - ½ cup

15. Garlic, sliced - 2 cloves

16. Chopped cilantro - ¼ cup

How to cook deliciously - Chef John's Cashew Chicken

1. Stage

Season chicken cubes with salt and black pepper.

2. Stage

Mix water and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth; whisk in lemon juice, rice vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, and chile pepper sauce into cornstarch mixture, stirring until brown sugar has dissolved and cornstarch is free of lumps.

3. Stage

Place a heavy skillet over medium-high heat; pour in vegetable oil. Add slices of red chile and ginger to the hot oil. Cook, stirring often, until oil is flavored, about 2 minutes. Stir in cashews and garlic; cook until cashews are lightly golden brown, about 2 minutes more.

4. Stage

Lightly toss seasoned chicken cubes with cashew mixture in skillet until combined, about 30 seconds. Turn heat down to medium-low and pour cornstarch mixture into the skillet. Stir constantly until sauce has thickened, about 30 seconds. If too thick, add a splash of water. Simmer 2 more minutes to heat the chicken through.

5. Stage

Adjust levels of salt, black pepper, soy sauce, and chile pepper sauce to taste. Stir in cilantro just until wilted, about 15 seconds.