Just a bit of chopping, mixing up a sauce, and a quick stir-fry are all I need to put this tasty and nutritious dinner on the table. Sounds like a great weeknight dinner option! Stir fry dishes are some of my favorite meals. They’re so quick, and so delicious. I am always cooking up a big variety of them, from Mongolian Beef to Thai Basil Chicken to my fiery Hunan Shrimp. This Thai cashew chicken is another great one to add to your recipe collection. It can be a great answer to the age old question, “What’s for Dinner Tonight?”
What Makes This Chicken Stir Fry Thai?
There is a lot of overlap among Asian stir fry dishes. Although some are very specific to one region, others have variations from country to country. Cashew chicken is one such dish. If you frequent Chinese and Thai restaurants, you’ve surely noticed a dish so named on both menus. Although many ingredients are common to both cuisines, two of them make this recipe uniquely Thai. One is red chili peppers, which are a Thai staple. The other is the liberal use of fish sauce, which is not as common of an ingredient in Chinese food.
Ingredients
Chicken – boneless skinless thighs or breast, cut into bite sized pieces and coated in cornstarch, salt and peppers Veggies – onions, bell peppers, scallions Garlic – Fresh is best. Red chilis – I used dried red chilis this time. If you find some Thai bird eye chilis in your local Asian market, they are a great alternative (use 3-4 of them, roughly chopped). Sauce – oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, cornstarch, rice vinegar, water Cashews – Roasted.
How to Make Thai Cashew Chicken
First, I toss my chicken with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Then, I sauté it in a hot wok until it’s just cooked through. Next, I add garlic, give it a good stir, and cook for a couple of minutes. I push the chicken mixture to the edges of the wok. Then, I add diced onions, bell peppers, the white part of scallions, and red chilis. I sauté them for a minute or two. I mix the chicken and veggies together, stir in the cashews, and cook until the veggies start to soften. Then, I stir in the prepared sauce and cook for a couple of minutes. I add the green portion of the scallions and give everything a good stir. Then, I serve it over hot rice or my favorite Asian noodles.
Can This Recipe Be Made With Other Meats?
Certainly. Some days I try it with thinly cut strips of flank steak or pork loin or tenderloin. (check out my Pork Stir Fry post for tips on making stir-fried pork very tender.) I also use chicken breast instead of thigh meat. However, rather than cutting it into chunks, I recommend slicing it into very thin strips, against the grain. I can also see this working very well with shrimp. I give them a quick sear, about 1-2 minutes per side, then remove them to a plate when cooking the veggies so they don’t overcook. I add them back in at the end.
Alpana’s Tips
High Heat is Key: I use medium-high heat for my wok to ensure that my chicken gets a nice sear and the vegetables stay crisp. It’s essential for that authentic stir-fry texture. Pre-Mix the Sauce: I always have the sauce mixed and ready before I start cooking. Stir-fry is a quick process, and I won’t have time to measure ingredients once I start. Cut Uniformly: I make sure my chicken and vegetables are cut into similar-sized pieces for even cooking. Don’t Overcrowd the Wok: I cook in batches if necessary. Overcrowding will cause the ingredients to steam rather than fry, losing that desired texture. Adjust the Heat: Feel free to modify the amount of red chilies to suit your heat preference. The recipe is quite adaptable to different spice levels. Serve Immediately: Stir-fries are best enjoyed fresh off the stove, so I try to time my cooking so it’s ready just as I’m about to eat.
Cook this Thai cashew chicken the next time you crave stir fry. Just a few varied ingredients will give your dish all new flavors. Once you try it, you just may find yourself going the Thai way more often! Be sure to check our other cracking Asian Recipes on GypsyPlate, and come back again for all the new flavors coming to you. We’re always cooking up new recipes for you, from all over the world. So be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, so you stay in the loop. See you soon!
Thai Cashew Chicken, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
Try these other great Asian inspired dishes!Bun Cha (Vietnamese Pork & Noodles)Katsudon (Japanese Pork Rice Bowl)Gado Gado (Indonesian Salad)Vietnamese Chicken CurryGiniling (Filipino Picadillo)Thai Basil Fried RiceFilipino Pork Adobo
