Cashew Chicken with Spiced Chickpeas

(Originally posted by Elly)

Debs thinks she found this recipe following a link from Kalyns Kitchen, but couldn’t find the exact link!

Anyway this was my choice for the challenge this week.

Cashew Chicken with Roasted Spiced Chickpeas
for 4 servings

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup roasted, salted cashews, chopped
3 cups cooked rice

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss the chickpeas on a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of the oil, salt, curry powder, cumin and cayenne. Roast for 25 minutes.

Heat a non-stick wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil until smoking. Toss in the chicken and cook, stirring, until surfaces are seared, but interior is still pink. Stir in the shallots and cook until softened, 1-2 minutes.

Add the sugar, soy sauce, and fish sauce to the chicken and stir. Cook a few more minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.

Stir in the chickpeas, spinach and cashews. Serve in bowls with hot cooked rice.

 

We loved it and it will definitely be added to the family menu ideas. It definitely has a kick, which we like and made a change from some of the other spicy dishes we have had.

Modifications:- I used a white onion sliced thin rather than shallots. We like onion. Not sure if US shallots means the same as ours anyway.

Debs has a big hatred of all things fishy so left out the fish sauce just put more soy sauce. If for me and my husband only  I would put it in.

My husband doesn’t do spinach so actually served baby spinach on the side. I have never had it like that before, only cooked spinach but I was impressed  - it makes a lovely salad. My husband did try a little and pronounced it ok. He just has a dread of all things green when cooked so the name put him off. He does eat green beans but I digress.

So the verdict is yes good, not to say yummy even. Thanks Blest for getting us to try new things, its easy to get stuck in a rut.