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Cashew Chicken with Asparagus

Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time9 minutes
Total Time34 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: asparagus, black pepper, cashews, chicken thighs, gluten free, honey, rice wine vinegar, scallions, turmeric
Servings: 4 servings
Author: GFchow @ gfchow.com

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons honey your favorite
  • 1/4 cup water
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
  • teaspoons kosher salt divided, plus more for seasoning the final dish
  • 2 tablespoons gluten free flour I prefer King Arthur's
  • teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 1-1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon coconut, canola or vegetable oil
  • 14-16 asparagus spears, medium thickness ends snapped off and thinly sliced on an angle into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup cashews whole, raw, and then toasted
  • 2 scallions for garnish trimmed and sliced into rounds

Instructions

  • In a small bowl mix together ¼ cup water with the honey, pepper, and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
  • Then combine flour, turmeric, and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium size bowl. Add the chicken and toss until chicken pieces are thoroughly coated.
  • Place a large nonstick or cast iron pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add chicken and cook until the turmeric is fragrant and the chicken is golden brown on all sides, approx. 4 minutes total. (Chicken will cook for an additional 3-5 mins as the recipe continues so don't worry if your chicken isn't fully cooked after 4 mins.)
  • While chicken is cooking, toast the cashews in a parchment or foil-lined pan for 3 minutes at 350 degrees or in a pan over medium high heat. You'll know the cashews are toasted when they are lightly browned. Set a timer to avoid burning!
  • Once chicken has cooked for 4 minutes, add the asparagus, season with salt and cook until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Then pour the honey mixture into the pan and cook, stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through. Once the sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes, add the cashews and combine with the chicken and asparagus.
  • Remove pan from the heat, add stir in rice vinegar. Season with more salt, if needed.
  • Place chicken on a medium-sized platter and sprinkle with scallions if desired. Serve with your favorite rice.

Notes

Edamame would be a good substitute for asparagus.
Boneless, skinless breasts can be used in place of the thighs if you prefer.
If cashews aren't your thing, you can either omit them or replace them with peanuts.
As an alternative to rice try serving with rice noodles or tucking into lettuce cups.
Swap tofu for the chicken for a vegetarian dish.