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You are here:Home / Recipes / Thai Recipes / Spicy Cashew Chicken

Spicy Cashew Chicken

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Spicy Cashew Chicken – easy and delicious chicken with cashew nuts with just the right amount of heat. Takes 20 mins to make and much better than takeout | rasamalaysia.com

Asian stir fry Spicy Cashew nuts with Chicken on top of rice.

Originally published on Sep 1, 2010. Updated with new photos.

Stir fry Cashew nuts Chicken with scallion.

I love Thai food. However, a lot of Thai recipes that I like are basically Chinese in origin, with local influences, which add an exciting layer of taste structure to the originals.

There are many examples: Rad Na, Pad See Ew, and in this case, cashew chicken.

In Chinese cuisine, these dishes are prepared the Chinese way, but the Thai versions are flavored with fish sauce or other local seasoning sauces such as sweet soy sauce, spices (yes!), chilies, and slightly varied ingredients.

The end results are always delicious, sometimes more delicious than the Chinese equivalents.

I always appreciate the local touch, which make good recipes even better!This spicy cashew chicken is adapted from my favorite Thai cookbook “Thai Cooking Made Easy.”

This variation of spicy cashew chicken is also popular in Southeast Asia. In fact, it’s one of my favorite chicken dishes whenever I eat out at local hot stir-fries stalls or restaurants when I am home in Malaysia.

To me, it’s the local interpretation of Chinese cashew chicken and Kung Pao Chicken, combined into this mouthwatering spicy Thai cashew chicken.

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Easy and quick Asian stir-fry cashew nuts with chicken pieces ready to serve.

I know a lot of you love the spicy cashew chicken at Cheesecake Factory but I will assure you that my spicy cashew chicken tastes MUCH better than the sweetened up version they offer.

It’s savory, with just the right amount of heat, and the perfect balance of flavors, making it such a delight with steamed white rice.

The best thing of all, it’s super easy to make, takes just about 20 minutes from prep to dinner table. Fire up your wok or skillet, try my spicy cashew chicken recipe and you will soon add it to your dinner rotation.

How Many Calories Per Serving?

This recipe is only 474 calories per serving.

Pairs well with:

Bean Sprouts with Tofu

Spam Fried Rice

Stir-fry Asparagus with Shrimp

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    Spicy Chicken with Cashew Nuts Recipe

    Servings 2 people
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes

    Spicy Cashew Chicken – easy and delicious chicken with cashew nuts with just the right amount of heat. Takes 20 mins to make and much better than takeout.

    Calories 474 kcal
    Author Bee | Rasa Malaysia

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1/2 small onion, cut into halves
    • 6-8 finger-length dried red chilies, seeded and cut into halves
    • 1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts, rinsed and drained
    • 8 oz chicken, cut into small cubes
    • 1 scallion, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-in lengths

    Sauce:

    • 1 teaspoon regular soy sauce or Maggi seasoning sauce / Golden Mountain sauce
    • 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
    • 1/4 teaspoon sugar or to taste
    • 2 tablespoons water
    Click Here for Conversion Tool

    Directions

    1. 1
      Heat up a wok and add the oil. When the oil is heated, add the garlic, onion, dried red chilies and stir-fry until fragrant or when you smell the spicy aroma of the chilies. Add the cashew nuts and follow with the chicken. Stir-fry the chicken until the surface turns opaque. Add all the ingredients for the Sauce into the wok and continue to stir-fry until the chicken is cooked. Stir-in the scallion, dish out and serve immediately with steamed rice.

    Recipe Notes

    To learn more about the different soy sauces used in Thai cooking, please check out this great post by She Simmers.

    Nutrition Facts
    Spicy Chicken with Cashew Nuts Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (2 people)
    Calories 474 Calories from Fat 324
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 36g55%
    Saturated Fat 16g100%
    Cholesterol 40mg13%
    Sodium 585mg25%
    Potassium 355mg10%
    Carbohydrates 22g7%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 17g34%
    Vitamin A 225IU5%
    Vitamin C 5mg6%
    Calcium 30mg3%
    Iron 2.6mg14%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Thai
    Keyword: Spicy Chicken with Cashew Nuts
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    68 COMMENTS... read them below or add one

    1. Jonathan

      March 5, 2018 at 1:04 PM

      Reply

      My girlfriend spent much of her childhood in Malaysia, eating food from the various stalls and restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Here in the US, she has a tortured relationship with cashew chicken–it never tastes like the dishes she had while growing up. I may make this recipe for her. It seems similar to what we ate when we visited KL several years ago. Thanks for maintaining this great website!

      • Rasa Malaysia

        March 5, 2018 at 5:11 PM

        Reply

        Hi Jonathan, thanks. Yes Malaysian spicy cashew chicken is AMAZING. This is very similar to what we have there.

    2. Gaya

      January 25, 2017 at 1:00 AM

      Reply

      Thank you so much for the recipes. 1st trial turns out good. Waiting to try other dishes as well.

    3. Tim

      November 1, 2016 at 7:44 PM

      Reply

      Hi, quick question. Do they sell Golden Mountain sauce in Malaysia? Where can I purchase it? Anywhere in Johor Bahru? Thanks!

    4. Farah

      February 21, 2015 at 4:24 AM

      Reply

      Hi, tried this today but used oyster sauce because I dont have fish sauce. But the taste was amazing nonetheless. great recipe, thanks so much!

      • Rasa Malaysia

        February 21, 2015 at 10:03 PM

        Reply

        Yes oyster sauce works. :)

        • Melinda

          October 18, 2015 at 11:00 PM

          Reply

          Hi. WHAT is sweet soy sauce? if I t find it, is there anything I can replace it with?

          • Rasa Malaysia

            October 19, 2015 at 12:16 AM

            Reply

            Just put soy sauce and add some sugar.

    5. Oscar Ord

      January 13, 2015 at 2:43 AM

      Reply

      This looks yummy Bee! Why do I have to rinsed the roasted cashew nuts??

    6. Glo Ross

      January 12, 2015 at 2:31 PM

      Reply

      What is fish sauce? What brand do you recommend?

      • Rasa Malaysia

        January 12, 2015 at 4:48 PM

        Reply

        Hi Glo, Fish sauce is made of fresh achovies and salt, it’s used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. I recommend Red Boat fish sauce.

    7. Jan

      January 12, 2015 at 2:00 PM

      Reply

      This looks yummy! You don’t specify light or dark meat chicken so can I use thighs, which would be my preference?

      • Rasa Malaysia

        January 12, 2015 at 4:48 PM

        Reply

        Yes, white or dark meat is fine.

    8. Liz

      January 12, 2015 at 1:38 PM

      Reply

      Looks and sounds so good. Thank you Bee.

    9. Spices Online

      October 14, 2014 at 8:27 AM

      Reply

      Best Recipe. I loved it. Thanks for sharing the wonderful recipe with us.

    10. faleen

      May 13, 2014 at 9:57 AM

      Reply

      A question please.. In the recipe section for the sauce you list “1 teaspoon soy sauce/Maggi seasoning/Golden Mountain sauce” does that mean we add 1 teaspoon of each of those items listed, OR 1 teaspoon of any of them? Thank you in advance.

      • Rasa Malaysia

        May 13, 2014 at 8:21 PM

        Reply

        1 teaspoon of either of those.

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