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Donna R. Luis

Thai Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

This Thai Cashew Chicken Stir Fry combines juicy chicken, crunchy golden cashews, fresh vegetables, and a concentrated savory Thai sauce in a quick, dry-style stir fry. A touch of red chilli adds optional heat, while jasmine rice makes a simple, fragrant accompaniment. The entire dish comes together in just 18 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Main Course, Stir Fries
Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients
  

For the Stir Fry
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil or canola or vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews
  • 1 garlic clove finely minced
  • 1/2 onion brown, yellow, or white, cut into thin wedges
  • 200 g / 7 oz skinless boneless chicken thighs, sliced into 1 cm / 1/3-inch thin strips
  • 2 green onions cut into 2.5 cm / 1-inch lengths, with the white and green parts separated
  • 1/2 red cayenne pepper deseeded and finely sliced diagonally; reduce or omit if preferred
For the Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water
For Serving
  • Red chilli finely sliced, optional for garnish
  • Jasmine rice for serving, or another rice of choice

Equipment

  • Wok or large skillet
  • Small bowl for mixing the sauce
  • Slotted spoon
  • Cutting board
  • Chef’s knife
  • Measuring spoons
  • Serving dish
  • Wooden spoon or spatula for stir-frying

Method
 

  1. Prepare the Sauce: Combine the oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, fish sauce, white sugar, and water in a small bowl.
    Stir until evenly mixed, then set aside.
  2. Toast the Cashews: Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat.
    Add the raw cashews and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring as needed, until they are dark golden and crunchy.
    Remove the cashews with a slotted spoon and set them aside.
  3. Cook the Aromatics: Increase the heat to high. Add the minced garlic and thinly wedged onion to the wok.
    Stir-fry for 30 seconds, keeping the ingredients moving so they cook quickly without overbrowning.
  4. Add the Chicken: Add the thinly sliced chicken thighs and stir-fry for 1 minute, until the outside of the chicken changes from pink to white.
  5. Add Chilli and White Green Onion: Add the white portions of the green onions along with the sliced red cayenne pepper.
    Continue cooking for 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the chicken is just cooked through.
  6. Reduce the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the wok. Cook for 1 minute, tossing the chicken through the sauce, until the liquid reduces to a syrup-like consistency and coats the chicken.
  7. Finish the Stir Fry: Add the green portions of the green onions and the toasted cashews.
    Toss everything together for about 30 seconds, distributing the cashews and green onions throughout the chicken.
  8. Serve: Transfer the finished stir fry to a serving dish. Serve immediately with jasmine rice or another rice of your choice, and garnish with additional finely sliced red chilli if desired.

Notes

  • Cashews: Raw, unsalted cashews give the best toasted flavor. Cook them for about 5 minutes until dark golden and crunchy. If using roasted cashews, cook them for approximately 1 1/2 minutes, just until lightly golden and nutty. Avoid salted cashews because they can make the finished dish too salty.
  • Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs provide a juicier result, although chicken breast can also be used. Chicken breast may be tenderized using a Chinese-style tenderizing method before cooking.
  • Chilli: Large red cayenne peppers generally provide a moderate level of heat. Reduce or omit the chilli for a milder stir fry, or use Thai bird’s-eye chillies for substantially more heat.
  • Oyster Sauce: Vegetarian oyster sauce can be used as a substitute for regular oyster sauce.
  • Dark Soy Sauce: Dark soy sauce contributes deeper color and flavor than light or all-purpose soy sauce. Using a different soy sauce may change the finished color and flavor.
  • Fish Sauce: Fish sauce provides traditional Thai-style savory depth. Additional soy sauce can replace it if necessary, although the overall flavor will be somewhat different.
  • Rice Options: Serve the stir fry with jasmine rice, plain white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, Thai fried rice, or Thai pineapple fried rice.
  • Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. The cooked stir fry can also be frozen.