Name: Cashew Chicken with Rice
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups rice; ¼ cup honey; 3 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tsp garlic, minced; 1 tsp sriracha; 2 tbsp cornstarch; ½ tsp salt; 3/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-in cubes); 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tbsp sesame oil; 3 cups broccoli florets (cut into bite-sized pieces); 2 large carrots (thinly sliced rounds); 1 red pepper (chopped); ½ cup cashews (chopped); 2 green onions (sliced); sriracha (optional)

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My go-to meal at a Chinese restaurant is cashew chicken. I blame Yen Ching, the best Chinese restaurant in the metro Milwaukee area, for turning me on to this dish. Fortunately, I’ve played around with a recipe enough to create a healthier version that can be made at home.

Now if only I could figure out how to recreate their sizzling rice soup…

Cashew Chicken with Rice

Course: Main Course

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings:

Calories: 427kcal

A healthy version of a Chinese takeout staple combining loads of fresh veggies with a simple simmer sauce and, of course, the crunch of cashews.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rice

Sauce

¼ cup honey
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp garlic, minced
1 tsp sriracha

Stir-Fry

2 tbsp cornstarch
½ tsp salt
3/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-in cubes
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp sesame oil
3 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
2 large carrots thinly sliced rounds
1 red pepper chopped

Garnish

½ cup cashews chopped
2 green onions sliced
sriracha optional

Instructions

In a small sauce pan or rice cooker, prepare the rice according to the package directions.
Stir together all the sauce ingredients and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the cornstarch and salt. Pat the chicken dry and cut into cubes. Add chicken cubes to the cornstarch mixture, tossing to coat. Set aside and prepare the vegetables.
Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once warm add the neutral and sesame oils. Add the chicken and cook for 4 minutes or until lightly browned but not cooked all the way through. Lower heat to medium and add the broccoli, carrots, and pepper. Cook 5 minutes or until the vegetables are barely tender and the chicken is done, stirring frequently.
Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Cook for a minute more. Taste and add more salt is necessary. Serve over the rice. Garnish with cashews, green onion, and, if desired, sriracha.

Notes

VEGGIE LOVERS

Your favorite Asian-inspired veggies will go great in this stir-fry. Add more to bulk up the recipe.
Frozen veggies will work in a pinch.

NUT-FREE

Skip the nuts. 😉

GLUTEN-FREE

Exchange tamari or coconut aminos for the soy sauce. (Be delicate with coconut aminos – it’s much more flavorful than traditional soy sauce.)

Nutrition