Sticky chicken with cashew nuts is a favorite in our house. This is a quick and easy chicken dish, for four people, that can be prepared in minutes. As everything is prepared in one large pan there is no messy cleaning up to do.
Both sticky chicken and cashew nuts offer nutritional benefits. Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein, while cashew nuts provide healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Together, they make a delicious and nutritious meal option.
This is a simple recipe suitable for beginners. Top tip: Remember to gather your ingredients together before starting – this will save you time as you go along. You will be serving this easy-to-prepare dish in no time at all.
Sticky chicken with cashew nuts
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 6 skinless boneless chicken thighs (approx 500g/1.1lb), chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 small egg
- 4 tbsp cornflour
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- oil for shallow frying – about 120ml (½ cup)
For the sauce:
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped thinly, or grated if you prefer
- 3 tbsp hoisin Sauce
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 120 ml (½ cup) chicken stock
Finish & Garnish:
- 140 g (1 cup) cashew nuts
- small bunch spring onions (scallions) chopped on the diagonal
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- pinch chilli flakes
Cooking Instructions for Sticky Chicken with Cashew Nuts
- Place the cornflour, paprika, salt and white pepper to a large bowl. Crack in the egg and mix together.
- Add the chicken into the mix and stir thoroughly, ensuring an even covering.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan or deep wok. When stir-frying the chicken, use high heat and a large skillet or wok. This will ensure that the chicken cooks quickly and gets that delicious caramelized exterior without overcooking.
- Add the chicken, and stir fry until golden on all sides. This should take about 7-8 minutes. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Overcrowding can lead to steaming instead of searing, resulting in soggy chicken.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce.
- Place the cornflour, light and dark soy sauce, garlic and hoisin sauce in a bowl and mix together until the cornflour is absorbed and there are no lumps.
- Add the light brown sugar, sesame oil and chicken stock to the bowl and stir together until combined.
- When the chicken is cooked through, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to remove any excess oil.
- Carefully discard the oil, then pour the sauce into the pan and heat through until bubbling.
- Add the chicken into the pan, then add in the cashews and half of the chopped spring onions.
- Stir together for 2 minutes, to heat through the cashews, then serve with rice.
- Just before serving sprinkle with the remaining spring onions, the sesame seeds and a pinch of chilli flakes.
Remember, cooking times may vary depending on the size of your chicken pieces and the heat of your stove, so keep an eye on things and adjust as needed.
Let’s swap things around
- If you don’t have any chicken you can easily use pork instead. Pork tenderloin and pork fillet are a perfect substitute. Thinly slice the pork and then simply follow the steps as listed.
- If you like things a bit spicer then why not add a touch of hot chilli sauce for a firey kick.
- If you would prefer more vegetables, or even a vegetarian option of this dish why not use ingredients such as green beans, small pieces of broccoli, carrots, and peppers. Just drizzle some oil in a frying pan, and heat, but don’t let it burn! Then simply throw the vegetables into the pan, coat with the oil and fry for a few minutes (they should still have a bit of bite in them). Once you are happy pour in the sauce, chicken and cashew nuts and cook as instructed.
Nutritional information per serving
- Calories: 554Kcal
- Protein: 24g
- Carbohydrate: 33g
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated fat: 5g
- Fibre: 2g
- Sodium: 1424mg
Health benefits of Sticky Chicken with Cashew Nuts
Chicken breast is a popular choice for many health-conscious individuals due to its numerous health benefits:
- High in Protein: Chicken breast is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, maintaining muscle mass, and supporting overall growth and development.
- Low in Fat: Compared to other cuts of chicken, such as thighs or drumsticks, chicken breast is lower in fat, particularly saturated fat. This makes it a good choice for those watching their fat intake or trying to maintain a healthy weight.
- Rich in Nutrients: Chicken breast contains essential nutrients such as vitamin B6, niacin (vitamin B3), phosphorus, and selenium. These nutrients play vital roles in metabolism, energy production, immune function, and maintaining healthy skin and nerves.
- Weight Management: Due to its high protein content and relatively low calorie and fat content, chicken breast can help keep you feeling full and satisfied, making it a great option for those looking to manage their weight or support weight loss efforts.
- Heart Health: Choosing lean sources of protein like chicken breast as part of a balanced diet can contribute to heart health by reducing intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. Additionally, the amino acid profile of chicken breast may have beneficial effects on blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Versatility: Chicken breast is incredibly versatile and can be prepared in numerous ways, from grilling and baking to stir-frying and roasting. This makes it easy to incorporate into a variety of healthy meals and recipes.
- Promotes Muscle Health: The high protein content of chicken breast makes it an excellent food choice for promoting muscle health and recovery, especially for individuals engaged in regular exercise or strength training.
Overall, chicken breast is a nutritious and versatile protein source that can be part of a balanced diet, supporting overall health and well-being when consumed as part of a varied and balanced diet.
More ideas
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