Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy & Flavorful: The chicken is perfectly battered and fried, offering a crunchy exterior with tender meat inside.
Sweet and Spicy Sauce: The sauce combines hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sriracha for a bold, spicy flavor.
Easy to Follow: Though it seems like a complicated dish, the steps are manageable, and the result is truly worth the effort.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1 ½ pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
8 oz cashews
6 green onions, cut into ¼-inch pieces
1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil

Seasoned Rice Flour:

¾ cup rice flour
¼ tsp kosher salt
⅛ tsp ground black pepper
⅛ tsp paprika
⅛ tsp baking powder

Rice Flour Batter:

1 ½ cups rice flour
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
1 ½ cups ice water

Spicy Soy-Sherry Sauce:

1 cup hoisin sauce
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup apple cider vinegar or white grape juice
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp sriracha sauce
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 oz fresh garlic, minced
¼ tsp crushed red chili flakes

Directions

Make the Seasoned Rice Flour: In a bowl, mix rice flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and baking powder.
Make the Rice Flour Batter: In a separate bowl, combine rice flour, all-purpose flour, salt, pepper, and ice water. Keep the batter cold.
Prepare the Spicy Soy-Sherry Sauce: In a bowl, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar (or white grape juice), rice vinegar, sriracha, sugar, minced garlic, and crushed red chili flakes.
Cook the Chicken: Toss the chicken in the seasoned rice flour. Dip it in the batter and fry in heated canola oil for 3 minutes on each side until golden and crispy.
Add Sauce and Cashews: Add the prepared sauce, cashews, and green onions to the pan. Toss everything together for a minute or so until the sauce thickens.
Serve: Garnish with sesame seeds and parsley if desired.

Servings and Timing

Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Variations

Vegetarian Option: Swap the chicken for tofu or tempeh for a plant-based version.
Less Spice: Reduce the sriracha or omit the chili flakes for a milder flavor.

Storage/Reheating

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until heated through to retain the crispy texture.

FAQs

Can I make this dish ahead of time?
You can prep the chicken and sauce ahead of time, but for the best texture, cook the chicken just before serving.

Can I use a different type of nut?
Yes, cashews can be substituted with peanuts or almonds, though it may change the flavor profile.

Can I freeze the dish?
It is not recommended to freeze this dish as the texture of the chicken may change upon reheating.

Conclusion

Cheesecake Factory’s Spicy Cashew Chicken is a flavorful and crispy dish with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. With a little patience and the right ingredients, you can recreate this restaurant favorite at home, impressing friends and family with a delicious, bold meal!