Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry
Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry brings tender grilled chicken together with crunchy cashews in a glossy, tangy-sweet sauce brightened by lemon and a touch of heat from sambal and fresh chile. Ginger and garlic perfume each bite, making it vibrant yet comforting. Serve it for a quick weeknight dinner or a lively weekend meal over steamed rice.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook10 mins
- Serves2
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 47 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 13 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 30
- Heart Health
- 31
- Metabolic
- 39
- Digestive
- 29
- Inflammatory
- 57
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Season the chicken cubes with salt and black pepper.
- 2
In a bowl, mix water and cornstarch until smooth; whisk in the lemon juice, rice vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, and chile pepper sauce, stirring until the brown sugar dissolves and the cornstarch is lump-free.
- 3
Set a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil. Add the slices of red chile and ginger to the hot oil. Cook, stirring often, until the oil is infused, about 2 minutes. Stir in the cashews and garlic; cook until the cashews are lightly golden brown, about 2 minutes more.
- 4
Lightly toss the seasoned chicken cubes with the cashew mixture in the skillet until combined, about 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour the cornstarch mixture into the skillet. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens, about 30 seconds. If it is too thick, add a splash of water. Simmer 2 more minutes to heat the chicken through.
- 5
Adjust the salt, black pepper, soy sauce, and chile pepper sauce to taste. Stir in the cilantro just until wilted, about 15 seconds.
- Calories 745.14 kcal High 37%
- Protein 61.37 g Good Source 123%
- Carbohydrate 50.86 g 18%
- Total Fat 34.07 g High 44%
- Saturated Fat 5.36 g High 27%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 141.27 mg High 47%
- Sodium 836.42 mg High 36%
- Dietary Fiber 5.31 g Moderate 19%
- Total Sugars 14.44 g --
- Added Sugars 5.31 g Moderate 11%
- Calcium 41.62 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 3.94 mg Good Source 22%
- Potassium 450.89 mg Low Source 10%
- Vitamin A 52.94 mcg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin C 4.21 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Soy 🌱
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir Fry is made with 16 ingredients and serves 2. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Brown Sugar, Cashews, Chicken Breast, and Chili Pepper. Each serving provides about 745.14 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry made of?
- The main ingredients are Brown Sugar, Cashews, Chicken Breast, Chili Pepper, Chili Sauce. The full list of 16 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry?
- About 30 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 745.14 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 16 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry healthy?
- Chef John's Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 745.14 calories and 61.37 g of protein, or 123% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 836.42 mg (36% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 5.36 g (27% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 5.31 g (11% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Tree Nuts, Soy, Corn, Tomatoes and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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