How to make Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts

A Thai-Chinese classic—savory, nutty, and lightly sweet. Crunchy cashews meet tender bites in a colorful stir-fry that’s always a favorite at the table.

Ingredients

  • 100 g chicken breast:
  • cut into bite-size pieces
  • 8–10 roasted cashew nuts
  • ½ small onion: sliced into wedges
  • ½ small bell pepper (red or green): sliced
  • 1-2 dried chilies (optional, for smoky heat)
  • 1 small garlic clove: minced
  • 1 spring onion: cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp oil

Sauce (mix together)

  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp fish sauce (optional)
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp water
  • A few drops of sesame oil for fragrant (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a wok/pan. Fry cashew nuts until golden → remove, set aside.
  2. (Optional) Quickly fry dried chilies until fragrant → remove, set aside.
  3. In the same pan, sauté garlic until fragrant.
  4. Add chicken → stir-fry until almost cooked.
  5. Add onion + bell pepper → toss briefly.
  6. Pour in the sauce → stir-fry until chicken is fully cooked and glossy.
  7. Add spring onion + fried cashews (and chilies, if using) → toss quickly.
  8. Serve hot with steamed jasmine rice.

Tips:

  1. Keep cashews crispy by frying/toasting separately and adding them last.
  2. Works great with tofu instead of chicken for a vegetarian version.
  3. Don’t overcook the veggies — they should stay a little crunchy.