Sunday, January 29, 2017

Spicy Cashew Chicken


Happy Chinese New Year!  To celebrate, last night my mom and I made some homemade Chinese food.  One of my favorite dishes to order at The Cheesecake Factory is their Spicy Cashew Chicken, so we decided to try to copy it at home.  We used the recipe from Dinner Then Dessert with a couple of modifications.


Ingredients:
  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
  • 1/3 cup peanut oil
  • 8 oz. chopped cashews
  • 6 green onions, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
  • 2 tsp. sesame seeds
  • Cooked rice
  • Seasoned Rice Flour
    • 3/4 cup rice flour
    • 1/4 tsp. salt
    • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
    • 1/8 tsp. paprika
    • 1/8 tsp. baking powder
  • Rice Flour Batter
    • 1 1/2 cup rice flour
    • 1/4 cup flour
    • 1/4 tsp. salt
    • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
    • 1 1/2 cup ice water
  • Spicy Soy Sherry Sauce
    • 1 cup Hoisin sauce
    • 1/4 cup soy sauce
    • 1/4 cup sherry
    • 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
    • 1 tbsp. Sriracha sauce
    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 2 minced garlic cloves
    • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
    • 1 1/2 tbsp. fresh ginger
Yield: 4 servings


To make the seasoned rice flour, mix the ingredients together in a bowl.


To make the rice flour batter, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl over ice.  Keep cold.  We placed the bowl with the batter mix inside a bowl with ice cubes to keep it cool.


To make the spicy soy sherry sauce, mix all the ingredients together.  We added some ginger to the recipe we found online - it gave the sauce a little bit more of a kick.


Next, toss the chicken pieces with the seasoned rice flour.  Then place the chicken in a bowl with the batter and combine until the chicken is well-coated.


Next, heat the peanut oil in a large pan on medium high heat.  Then add the chicken pieces and cook until the chicken is browned and crispy (about 3 minutes on each side).  Remove the chicken and place it on a paper towel to drain.  We had to do this twice in order to cook all the chicken.  Be sure to break apart any of the chicken pieces that stuck together.

 

Next, add the cashews and sauce to the pan.  Then add in the green onions, sesame seeds, and the chicken.  Toss all the ingredients together until well-coated and let cook for about 30 seconds in order for the sauce to thicken.


Serve over rice.


 Everybody really enjoyed this recipe and it was a fun way to celebrate the Year of the Rooster.


Gung hey fat choy!


And yes, I even dressed up my dog to celebrate.

Have you ever tried any copycat restaurant recipes?  Let me know!

25 comments:

  1. That looked really great and easy to follow. Thanks Kim, we're going to keep that recipe handy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am soooo happy for you!! I have ALWAYS wanted to do a food blog (but have been too lazy so far), LOVE THIS!! Would you please add "follow by email" to your side bar? you have "follow" but that goes to a reader and I only follow by email. xoxo catchatwithcarenandcody

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is great Kim! My mouth is watering 😍

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, that looks tasty!
    Cool blog :)
    Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ

    ReplyDelete
  5. That sounds great! I have made a copycat recipe of Boston Market's meatloaf and it tastes the same. I wonder if there is one for Cheesecake Factory's orange chicken?Very pretty dress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love their orange chicken too - definitely one to look for.

      Delete
  6. One of my FAVORITE things to order at our Chinese restaurant and while it's a "big" recipe, your version looks unbelievably DELICIOUS! I'll have to be brave and try to make it at home.

    Hugs, Pam (Mom of Angel Sammy)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That looks fantastic! I think my momma should try it! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That looks delicious!! Will have to remember this when I go to the store so I can grab all the ingredients.

    ReplyDelete
  9. OMD! This looks incredible! Thanks for sharing. ☺

    ReplyDelete
  10. I always order leftovers from The Cheesecake Factory! Can I get leftovers here?
    Sweet William The Scot

    ReplyDelete
  11. TW can't cook or eat spicy food but says this looks delish.

    ReplyDelete