Cashew Chicken – Food Faith Fitness

A savory Cashew Chicken dish with the crunch of delicious nuts on top!

The next time you’re about to order takeout from a Chinese restaurant, consider whether it may be more fun to prepare one of your favorite dishes at home. It’s easier than you think, for example, to cook up a sweet and savory chicken dish like cashew chicken. As long as you have a few vegetables and the right condiments—not to mention cashews—you can expand your culinary skills and make your own Chinese-inspired dinner feast from the comfort of your kitchen.

I love many things about this meal, including the smell of the garlic and onion as they cook next to the chicken. I also adore the combination of soy sauce and hoisin sauce mixed in with the chicken, creating nuanced flavors to accompany the cashews’ nutty taste and crunchy texture. Plus, the entire meal tastes better knowing you made it yourself rather than letting a restaurant take care of it.

Is Cashew Chicken Healthy?

Cashew chicken has some pros and cons from a health standpoint, although it does offer some nutritional value. Obviously, the boneless and skinless chicken breast is a reliable source of protein. With vegetables like onion and bell peppers in the recipe, you’ll also get a lot of vitamin C. Less beneficial are the high volume of sodium and the 8 grams of saturated fat per portion. To make it less salty, try swapping the soy sauce for coconut aminos.

Cooking Cashews

Rather than using raw cashews, I advise toasting them before adding them to the dish at the end. To do so, put the cashews in the oven for 5 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will bring out more of their nutty and smoky flavor while also making them a little crunchier. You will also notice that they will cook to a nice golden brown color. While this step is optional, I suggest giving it a try. You’ll be able to taste the difference.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3/4 cup unsalted cashews
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 green onions, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare Sauce

Whisk together soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, and sesame oil.

Cook Chicken

Coat chicken with cornstarch, then brown in oil.

Combine and Serve

Add vegetables, sauce, cashews, and green onions.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

Serving Suggestions

Rice is the most natural side dish for cashew chicken. I recommend using Coconut Cilantro Lime Rice, although Brown Rice Pilaf is also a good fit. A vegetable side dish like Grilled Broccoli is likewise a good accompaniment, as is Garlic Mushrooms. Of course, if you’ve decided to cook rather than order takeout, you can add a hors d’ouevres course to whet the appetite. An appetizer like Air Fryer Egg Rolls is a good option.

For more homemade takeout-style recipes, take a look at Homemade Orange Chicken, Ground Chicken Stir-Fry or Hunan Chicken.