Description
🥢 A vibrant stir‑fry that balances nutty sesame, sweet dates, and juicy chicken for a satisfying meal.
🍯 Ready in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
4 Tbsp toasted sesame oil (divided)
1 12-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into coins (or minced)
6–8 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 bunch scallions, cut into 2-inch lengths
3–4 dried red chilies, or 1/2 tsp chili flakes
2 lb (approximately 900 g) boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch chunks
1/2 cup toasted cashews
1/3 cup rice wine or dry sherry
3 Tbsp dark soy sauce or tamari
4 pitted dates, thinly sliced (optional: double for extra sweetness)
3 cups fresh basil or cilantro leaves, loosely packed
Rice vinegar or lime juice, to taste
Cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
1-First, season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper for basic flavor. Heat a 12-inch skillet or wok over high heat for about 2 minutes, then add 2 Tbsp sesame oil and swirl it around. Add the ginger, garlic, scallions, and chilies, stirring until the garlic edges turn golden, which takes 2-3 minutes.
2-Next, add the remaining 2 Tbsp sesame oil, the chicken chunks, and the toasted cashews. Stir-fry until the chicken browns, about 4-5 minutes, and lower the heat if the cashews darken too fast. For more ideas, try our slow-cooker sesame chicken recipe if you prefer a hands-off approach.
3-Pour in the rice wine or sherry, dark soy sauce or tamari, and the sliced dates. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens. The total preparation time is about 20 minutes, including prep and cooking. This step-by-step method ties into long-tail keyword “stir-fried chicken with sesame, cashews, and dates” for an authentic feel.
Notes
🌶️ Add extra dried chilies or a dash of hot sauce for more heat.
🥜 Toast the cashews a bit longer for deeper nuttiness before adding them.
🥦 Include quick‑cooking veggies like broccoli florets or sliced carrots during the simmer step for added nutrition.
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir‑Fry
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup stir‑fry with rice per serving
- Calories: 605 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 569 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 27 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
Keywords: Sesame Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Sweet Date Stir Fry, Asian Chicken Recipe