Cashew Chicken

Rating: 3.5 stars
209 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 44
  • 4 star values: 61
  • 3 star values: 64
  • 2 star values: 35
  • 1 star values: 5

Cooking popular take-out dishes like this one at home means you can control the quality of the ingredients, making them far healthier.

Everyday Food, May 2004

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Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary test

prep:
30 mins
total:
30 mins
Servings:
4
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Ingredients

Directions

  • In a medium bowl, toss chicken with cornstarch until chicken is coated; season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

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  • In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook half the chicken, tossing often, until browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

  • Add remaining oil and chicken to skillet along with the garlic and white parts of scallions. Cook, tossing often, until chicken is browned, about 3 minutes. Return first batch of chicken to pan. Add vinegar; cook until evaporated, about 30 seconds.

  • Add hoisin sauce and 1/4 cup water; cook, tossing, until chicken is cooked through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in scallion greens and cashews. Serve immediately over white rice, if desired.

Cook's Notes

Toasting brings out the sweet, buttery flavor of the cashews. Spread them on a baking sheet, and cook in an oven heated to 350 degrees until golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes.

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Reviews (29)

209 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 44
  • 4 star values: 61
  • 3 star values: 64
  • 2 star values: 35
  • 1 star values: 5
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5.0 stars
07/03/2020
This recipe is excellent. I made no changes except I used less salt, and then salted the top at the table. I always do this. So much better than takeout!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 3 stars
08/08/2018
I thought it was very bland. Maybe we needed higher quality hoisin sauce, but as it was, I wasn't impressed.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/30/2013
This recipe was quick, easy and tasty! I'd make it again and recommend to others.
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
10/22/2011
I have made this two or three times now, so you can tell how good it is by how I find myself coming back to it. I crave the crunchy cashews with the chicken. Tonight, I added some baby snap peas for some extra green, and it turned out great. It isn't the most AMAZING recipe I have ever made at home. But, for a rather simple meal it sure tastes good. Note: Watch the hoison sauce. I added too much one time and it was very overwhelming with the licorice root/anise flavors. Whew! : )
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
10/11/2011
I made this for dinner tonight! Wowie! It taste like something from a restaurant. Very tasty!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/08/2011
This recipe is just fabulous! I am a huge fan of hoisin sauce and any kind of nuts will make me happy. Have any of you made your own peanut, cashew or almond butter? All are so great for cooking.
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/31/2010
This was a good basic recipe, but will add brocolli, snow peas and red chilis next time for more overall flavor. Served with Mango Coconut rice which is fantastic ( by Paula Deen) .
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/23/2010
This was great! But I admit that I modified it quite a bit, based on what was in my pantry. I forgot the garlic, added some thinly sliced celery, used some roasted chicken breast chunks from Schwan's - which had plenty of salt, so I didn't add more, and used some Thai Plum Sauce instead of the hoisin, as I already had a bottle in my fridge.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/21/2010
It's not bad, but lacking something. I added more hoisin sauce then called for and that seemed to help. Make sure you add your salt and pepper.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/13/2010
This dish was great! (and I even forgot the garlic - opps!) I added yellow bell pepper to give it some kick. In the future, I might even add spinach to make it even healthier. I think the other comments have it right - the quality of your hoisin sauce seems to really matter for this recipe. I found an all-nautural sauce at the store and paid a little more than normal but it was definitely worth it. I will be making again for sure!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/13/2010
Wasn't what I was expecting - I was thinking this would be more savory. Was a bit on the "blah" side. Probably the brand of sauce I used.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/13/2010
Wasn't what I was expecting - I was thinking this would be more savory. Was a bit on the "blah" side. Probably the brand of sauce I used.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/13/2009
I was disappointed with this meal. I expected a very dark, rich sauce, but instead it was sweet. It may have been the brand of hoisin sauce that I used, but I won't bother trying again with a different sauce.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/30/2009
Never used the hoisin sauce before, so this will be a new adventure. Using the cashews sounds so delicious, and adding this as another chicken recipe I will be trying. Thanks
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/16/2008
My husband and I loved this dish. He even ate the leftovers, which is rare. I think I will add more vegetables and serve over brown rice next time to increase the nutritional value. In regards to the nutrition facts, this recipe is also in Great Food Fast, which is a wonderful cookbook. According to the cookbook, it has 477 calories, 22.5 g fat, 49 g protein, 21.1 g carbs per serving.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
06/21/2008
This recipe was excellent. I, like other have commented, wish there was some nutritional information. I am not sure why anyone would say that it doesnt have any flavor, I thought it was packed with flavor, I loved it and will make it again and again. Even my 2 1/2 year old loved it! :o) Enjoy!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
06/05/2008
I made this last night
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/18/2008
I made this today and it was superb! Ate a big bowl and received lots of compliments from family. Unlike what someone else wrote, I found it full of flavor. (Might want to check your ingredients. My Hoisin sauce was divine.) The dish was all gone within minutes. By the way this recipe is also fun to make. It keeps you busy without being overwhelming. I can't wait to make it again. I will also add chili next time as someone suggested, only because I love heat. Thanks for the recipe
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/15/2008
This recipe did not taste like any Cashew Chicken I've had . Lacking flavor . I only added red peppers as a change to the printed recipe . I will investigate a more authentic sauce brfore making this again .
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
Living in the Vancouver, British Columbia area in Canada, we enjoy a highly diversified and multilingual population, which of course, gives us the opportunity to try many different dishes, particularly of Asian background. I made this recipe tonight for our dinner and I must say it was excellent. I prepared and cooked it exactly as stated, with the result everything tasted great and was perfect! Thanks!!!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
That's an excellent suggestion. The nutritional information would be awesome.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
It would be easier but it's simple to do this at home. When my husband did Weight Watchers I found the formula for figuring points so I would add the fat, calories, and fiber, plug in the numbers and find out the points. Once you get the hang of it, it goes quickly. This made it easier to cook what I wanted instead of following their recipes. Good luck! :)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
It would be easier but it's simple to do this at home. When my husband did Weight Watchers I found the formula for figuring points so I would add the fat, calories, and fiber, plug in the numbers and find out the points. Once you get the hang of it, it goes quickly. This made it easier to cook what I wanted instead of following their recipes. Good luck! :)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
I agree, they should include the nutritional information!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
Would be really nice if they would print the nutritional information in their recipes for those of us doing Weight Watchers.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
This sounds really good! Anything with hoisin sauce usually is very tasty. Also toasting the cashews makes a big difference!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
I made this dinner last night and loved it! It was easy and tasty too! The chicken cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious. This is definetly a recipe I plan to use when "company" comes for dinner. My 3 daughters all enjoyed it and they are usually my harshes critics!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
I am constantly finding great recipes on this website and like the e-mailed newsletters - thanks! My one complaint - which I have seen from a lot of others - is that there is no nutritional information for the recipes, i.e. calories, fat content, sodium etc. This type of information is provided on every other "food" website and would be greatly appreciated.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/13/2008
I did not like this recipe at all!! I am a huge fan of Asian food,
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
04/05/2008
This recipe is FABULOUS! It came out just the way it promised. The chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The sauce was so good that I could have sworn that I ordered it from our favorite Chinese Restaurant it was so good but it didn't! It came from my kitchen! I highliy recommend this recipe for a fun and no nonsense meal that'll turn out delicious!
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