Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

I wrote a column entitled “Springfield Style Cashew Kitty”, and published it on September 17, 2024. I promised to share my recipe for Cashew Chicken at a future date. I finally am going to do that. Unlike most other websites, I will provide the recipe first, then offer my comments on it.

Ingredients:

1 large chicken breast (boneless, skinless)

1-2 cups flour

Salt to taste (About 2 teaspoons)

Pepper to taste (About 1/2 teaspoon)

Oil for frying

1 cup Milk

1 egg

2 cups chicken broth or bullion

4 Tsp. Corn Starch

4 Tsp. Soy Sauce

Cashews and Chopped Green Onions for toppings

Instructions:

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place the flour into a zipper bag and add salt and pepper to taste. Seal and shake to mix. Drop the chicken into the bag, zip it shut, and shake until it’s coated. Allow to sit in the flour for twenty to thirty minutes.

Heat one inch of oil in a skillet or wok. You can use a deep fryer if you have one. The oil should be 350 degrees F. I preheat my oven to 170 degrees F. That is the lowest my oven will go. This is to keep the fried chicken warm as you get it cooked.

While the oil is heating, mix the milk and egg together in a dish large enough to submerge the chicken. You may need more milk and eggs, depending on the quantity of chicken. Allow it to soak for ten minutes and then return it to the flour mixture. Do not overload the skillet or fryer. Cook until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

To make your sauce: Mix the corn starch and soy sauce with ½ cup of cold water. It must be cold water. Bring the broth or bullion to a boil. Stir the water, corn starch, and soy sauce mixture into the boiling broth. Remove from the heat as soon as it thickens as much as you want. If it thickens more than you want, dilute with a little water.

Serve the chicken over or beside rice. I like fried rice and will give you my version next week. My wife and I prefer the chicken and sauce over the rice sprinkled with green onions and cashews. We also serve with stir fried vegetables on the side. These can be found in the freezer section of most markets. Choose a mix you like and prepare according to directions on the package. Enjoy.

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger