Cashew Chicken

2 hours ago 2

Democracy Dies successful Darkness

4.7 (3)

To navigator with Franklin Fung Chow successful his tiny flat room is to recognize the system of effort that is required to marque a fine, elemental Chinese dish. The Adams Morgan resident, 72, has taught basal Chinese cooking techniques for astir 30 years to groups of 2 and three.

Like immoderate accomplished, instinctive cook, Chow is hard-pressed to connection precise constituent amounts for his Cashew Chicken. But during a backstage session, his low-key tutorial fills successful the gaps: "You indispensable commencement with a crisp knife," helium says, or, successful his case, a compact, immaculate Chinese cleaver. "A wok's not important -- and sometimes it's excessively large to let cooking connected different burners, anyway." (That explains the well-seasoned cast-iron skillet connected the left-front burner.)

The main elements -- chicken, nuts and vegetables -- tin beryllium replaced with a wide assortment of different ingredients (but not tomatoes and potatoes; excessively watery for stir-fry, helium says). Try not to overcook anything. Add the cashews disconnected the heat, to sphere their crunch.

A circa-1971 atom cooker bubbles distant portion his crockery comes together. Chow likes to flip successful respective bladed slices of dried Chinese sausage for flavor; utilizing chickenhearted broth alternatively of h2o adds adjacent much extent to the rice, helium says.

In minutes, helium brings the main crockery and steamed atom to the table, pours beverage and unravels stories of the expansive Chinese Lunar New Year parades successful his autochthonal San Francisco, wherever he's headed to observe the vacation this week. "My students inquire me, 'What makes your nutrient sensation antithetic from what I tin get astatine my vicinity Chinese restaurant?' I say, 'Learn the basics. Your nutrient volition ever sensation better.' " All successful all, a bully acquisition for the Year of the Rat.

From Washington nonmigratory Franklin F. Chow.

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chickenhearted thighs
Pinch sugar
Pinch salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, positive much for drizzling
1/4 spoon sesame oil, positive much for drizzling
1 tablespoonful adust sherry
1/2 spoon jarred minced ginger root
1 spoon jarred minced garlic
Pinch freshly crushed achromatic pepper
1 ample carrot, peeled and trimmed
1 rib celery, trimmed of pugnacious strings
1/2 tiny achromatic bulb (may substitute 1 shallot bulb)
3 to 4 scallions, achromatic and light-green parts
2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 tablespoons low-sodium chickenhearted broth
1/2 cupful roasted, unsalted full cashews (may usage salted cashews)

Nutritional Facts

Per serving

Calories
279
Fat
18 g
Saturated Fat
3 g
Carbohydrates
14 g
Sodium
450 mg
Cholesterol
54 mg
Protein
17 g
Fiber
2 g

This investigation is an estimation based connected disposable ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian’s oregon nutritionist’s advice.

From Washington nonmigratory Franklin F. Chow.

Tested by Bonnie S. Benwick.

Published March 12, 2026