Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups white or short-grain rice, cooked to package directions in chicken stock rather than water
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast and/or thigh, diced into bite-sized pieces
  • Salt and pepper
  • 3 tablespoons high-temperature cooking oil, such as peanut, safflower or grapeseed, divided
  • 2 sweet peppers, such as red field, yellow bell or cubanelle, diced
  • 2 large or 3 small leeks, halved lengthwise, trimmed of rough green tops and root then cut into 3/4-inch half-moons and washed then dried
  • 1 1/2 inches ginger, grated or minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped or sliced
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • About 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, a fat splash
  • 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon Tamari or Shoyu
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Toasted sesame seed and cilantro leaves, to garnish
Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Scatter nuts on a small baking sheet and toast 6-8 minutes until fragrant, golden and crisp. Remove and cool; turn off oven.
 
Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

 
Heat a large pan, wok or round-bottom pot over high heat. Add oil, 1 turn of the pan. Brown half the chicken and remove to a plate. Add more oil and repeat with remaining chicken. Remove and reserve.
 
Add remaining tablespoon oil to the pan along with the peppers, leeks, ginger, garlic and chili flakes, and toss to combine. Add vinegar, Hoisin, water, Tamari or Shoyu, and sesame oil, and stir to combine. Add in reserved chicken and cashews, give everything a quick toss to coat, and remove pan from heat.
 
Spoon rice into shallow bowls, make a well and fill with cashew chicken. Serve topped with sesame seeds and cilantro.

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