Sweet & Spicy Cashew Chicken

katie4998's Note:

This is a fabulous stirfry - a little sweet, a little (or a lot!) hot, and loaded with veggies and chicken! Yum! This is my adaptation of a recipe from the Best of Bridge cookbook series - A GREAT set of cookbooks!

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

The Sauce

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 4 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce or 4 teaspoons regular soy sauce, your choice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on how much "heat" you can handle!)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth

The Rest

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 whole double boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 -3 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, any color,sliced into strips (2 small peppers can be used, to give more color contrast)
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1 carrot, thinly sliced on diagonal
• 1 cup snow peas
• 1 1/2 cups cashews
• sesame seed, toasted

Directions:

1. Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
2. In a large plastic resealable baggie, combine cornstarch, sugar and salt; Add chicken chunks, seal baggie and shake to coat chicken in cornstarch mixture.
3. Heat wok or large frying pan on high and add oil; heat to hot, but not smoking.
4. Add chicken pieces, garlic, ginger and onion, stirring until chicken is lightly cooked on the outside (about 1 minute).
5. Add bell pepper, mushrooms, and carrots; stir 2-3 minutes until softened.
6. Add snow peas and sauce, cooking until sauce comes to a boil.
7. Add cashews and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
8. Serve immediately, over rice if you'd like-- YUM!

Reviews

[tifdblpn]

I really likes this. My DH and girls likes it too. I thought there was a little bit too much of a ketchup taste for me, but it was still really good. Next time I won't add as much ketchup and more soy sauce...play around with it some. Thanks!!

[Dib's]

I LOVE this recipe. It is exactly like the one I learned how to make in High School. I had lost the recipe years ago and have missed it dearly. I did double the sauce (thinking ahead) so I could cook up some Spatzle noodles to change it up a little for another night's dinner. This will be made again and again! Even my picky husband loved it! Thanks for posting!

[Karen Elizabeth]

Made exactly as directed, and very much enjoyed! Easy to follow directions made for a quickly prepared and delicious meal .... always remember to prepare in advance for this kind of dish, then it is ready before you know it. Served over steamed rice. Thank you Katie! made for Chinese/Vietnamese New Year tag game, Asian Forum.