Garlic Cashew Chicken

 

I am on a quest now to lower the fat, salt and carbohydrates of what we are eating, and to that end I cooked a delicious chicken dish for us the other day that I had adapted from a cookery book entitled "The Ultimate Diabetes Cookbook" from Diabetic Living.

 

Garlic Cashew Chicken is a lovely melange of crisp and colourful vegetables, flavourful chicken strips, with a nicely spiced sauce,  and brown rice . . .  and plenty of garlic. Yum!

 

I cut the recipe in half and it worked very well. I only used two small sized chicken breasts, which I sliced into strips crosswise and then browned in a non-stick pan I had sprayed first with low fat Fry Light Avocado Cooking Spray.  We don't get Pam cooking spray over her so . . .

 

After that you take the chicken out and you stir fry the vegetables . . . onions, carrots, bok choy, green peppers, garlic. . .  one serving of this provides you with a full serving of vegetables.

 

I didn't have bok choy so I just used sliced cabbage and it worked well.  You make a simple sauce using chicken stock, hoisin sauce, freshly grated gingerroot, cornflour, and red pepper flakes.   This sauce has lotsa lotsa flavour.  It is really tasty.  I love hoisin sauce.

 

You stir the chicken back into the sauce and vegetable mix along with some cooked brown rice and then the whole thing gets poured into a casserole dish, tightly covered and baked.

 

Then you uncover it and sprinkle the top with cashew nuts and chow mein noodles.  We cannot get the fried chow mein noodles over here (and its a good thing too because I could eat them like potato chips and they are not that good for you.)  So I just used some cashew nuts.  Banged back in the oven to toast the nuts . . .

 

And with a final sprinkle of sliced spring onions, this went down a real treat.  I did serve Todd some additional brown rice on the side of his because he is not needing to watch his carbs and can use the extra calories.  One of our neighbors brought him a piece of their wedding cake last evening as well, so he was one very happy camper. 

 

*Cashew Garlic Chicken*

Makes 6 servings

Printable Recipe 

 

With an abundance of crunchy vegetables and a delicious sauce, this tasty casserole appeals on many levels.  Its also healthy and  diabetic friendly. 

240ml low sodium chicken stock (1 cup)

60ml hoisin sauce (1/4 cup)

2 TBS grated fresh gingerroot

4 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (can adjust if you are not fond of too much heat)

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 pound boneless, skinless free range chicken breasts, sliced into strips

2 medium brown onions, peeled and cut into thin wedges

200g cabbage or bok choy, sliced (2 cups)

2 stalks celery, trimmed and sliced (1 cup)

2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced (1 cup)

1 large green pepper, trimmed, deseeded and chopped (about 3/4 cup)

6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 (250g) pouch cooked brown rice (2 cups, cooked brown rice)

55g cashew nuts (1/2 cup)

2 sliced spring onions

Optional (If you can get them):

1 cup crispy chow mein noodles

(I don't use these because I cannot get them, and they

are also calorie rich, high in fat and carbs)

  

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6.  Spray a 2 litre/2 QT baking dish with low fat cooking spray and set aside. 

Whisk together the chicken stock, hoisin sauce, fresh ginger, cornflour, red pepper and black pepper.  Set aside. 

Spray a large skillet with low fat cooking spray.  Heat over medium high heat. Add the chicken strips and cook until lightly browned.  Remove to a bowl and set aside. Add the onion, cabbage (bok choy) carrots, celery,and green peppers to the skillet.  Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften.  Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 2 minutes or so longer.  Stir in the chicken stock mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until it bubbles and thickens  Cook for several minutes longer. Stir in the cooked chicken and any accumulated juices.  Stir in the rice.  Mix together well.  Pour into the prepared casserole dish.  Spread out, then cover tightly.


Bake for about 20 minutes, until bubbling and the chicken is no longer pink inside.  Sprinkle with the cashew nuts and chow mein noodles (if using). Return to the oven for a further 4 to 5 minutes.


Sprinkle with the sliced spring onions and serve.

 

This really was delicious.  Don't let the long list of ingredients put you off.  Once you get them all assembled the dish goes together really quickly.  I was able to enjoy the extra serving today.  I made something suitable for Todd to eat, so he wasn't left out and I got to enjoy another healthy meal.  I'd call that a bonus!  I hope you will try it.  I think you will really enjoy it, and maybe even more so in knowing that you are eating quite healthy as well.  At  340cal per serving and 40g of carbs (and even less if you leave out the chowmein noodles) this is a winner/winner chicken dinner!  Bon Appetit! 

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