The inspiration for Chipotle Cashew Chicken with Brown Rice came from the early days of the Food Network. Those were the day when they aired so many inspiring recipes you didn’t know which one to try first. What intrigued us was that this recipe is a fusion of Mexican and Asian cuisine. The recipe is easy and once you line up your ingredients, the cashew chicken stir fry comes together quickly. It’s a fantastic weeknight dish and we know it will become a family favorite. It’s certainly a favorite of ours.
Easy Chipotle Cashew Chicken is a wonderful fusion of Asian and Mexican.
Chipotle Cashew Chicken Background
Every night after dinner Honey and I would sit and watch the Food Network. You’d think that we wouldn’t want to watch anything to do with food after eating but we enjoyed the inspiration.
This particular night Rachel Ray came up with such an unusual combination we were enthralled. The minute the cashew chicken episode finished, we couldn’t wait to gather the ingredients and make the recipe!
The ingredient seasoning combination piqued our interest:
- soy sauce
- garlic
- chipotle
- cumin
- honey
- maple syrup
Ahhhh! We miss those days!
The stars that inspired us
Those were the days when you were on a first name basis with the Food Network show’s star, after all you were in their kitchens up close. They were your friends, your muse.
There was Mario who toured Italy with his brother on that little scooter. Those were fascinating episodes that showed you the process Italians took to make their delicious products such as Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano.
What we would have given to be seated at Mario’s kitchen bar when he prepared meals for his friends, explaining all the while about the dish and its history!
Of course there was Emeril who made cooking fun and entertained us with his humor. His Cajun accent just added to the charm of the show. We’ve used quite a few of his recipes and he’s been an inspiration for so many more. The brine for our Perfect Roast Turkey is an Emeril adaptation.
Oh for smell-a-vision.
Chipotle Cashew Chicken is a delicious Mexican-Asian Stir Fry
We certainly can’t forget Ina who made tasty meals while waiting for Jeffrey, her husband, to get home. It was always — he’s going to love this.
We made her roasted broccoli and it was so easy and everyone couldn’t believe the flavor just by roasting the veggie.
Her parties on her beach were always so special, wish we could have been on her A-list.
Young stars came on the food scene
And how about Giada? Oh my gosh, she would be speaking perfect English and then all of sudden she would find an Italian word with double “r’s” and she’d roll her “r’s” for at least a minute.
If by chance her mamma or zia were on, you’d never knew what was going to happen.
We enjoyed her Rotini with Fresh Lemon and Tomatoes. She really got us thinking about taking a recipe and making variations.
Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, and Guy Fieri were fresh, young, and enthusiastic about everything they made and that enthusiasm was contagious. I remember one recipe we adapted from Guy Fieri – it was our Spicy Teriyaki Chicken Wings. It was a huge family hit!
Women no longer ruled the kitchen and the air waves. Both men and women now wanted to get back into the kitchen to create.
Chipotle Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with Brown Rice
Chipotle Cashew Chicken a superb weeknight dish
Now Rachel Ray was the girl next door. She wasn’t a chef but she’d learned how to cook and she always tried short cuts. She giggled and made acronyms, like EVOO, and her dishes were all done in 30 minutes.
The Chipotle Cashew Chicken with Brown Rice is adapted from a Rachel Ray recipe. We like it so much we often make this easy stir fry. The combination of ingredients such as the maple syrup and honey with chipotle in adobo may sound strange but they come together beautifully!
This is one super easy cashew chicken recipe and it makes quite a bit so invite some family or friends in to share.
There is an Italian saying that says: A tavola non si invecchia which translates “At the table with friends and family you don’t become old”.
Tutti a tavola è pronto
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
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We can attest that Canadian Syrup is truly thick and delicious. We really love it! You can definitely tell the difference between good organic maple syrup and the cheap imitation stuff. The maple syrup were using now was a gift and whenever we finish the jug, we’ll be ordering some more.
Chipotle Cashew Chicken With Brown Rice
This recipe is one you’ll want to eat all weekend for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It has the perfect combination of sweet and spicy, running the full gamut of flavor from Mexican to Asian. Invite friends and family over, this makes quite a bit and believe me they will be forever grateful. And don’t worry about the ingredient length. Once you get them measured it takes no time at all to go from start to delicious finish. Be sure and take a bow when they flood you with compliments.
Chipotle Cashew Chicken with Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra- virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large onion 1/4 onion finely chopped, 3/4 thinly sliced
- 2 cups quick cooking brown rice
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 pounds chicken meat: skinless boneless thighs what we use or you can use chicken tenders, boneless, skinless breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning blend by McCormick
- 3 tablespoons tamari dark soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 red or green bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced
- 15 water chestnuts sliced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 3 tablespoons chipotle in adobo 2 peppers in their sauce mashed up to make the amount needed
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons cilantro
- 1 cup raw cashews plus more for garnish.
Instructions
- In a medium pot over medium heat combine 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. When butter melts into oil, add in the chopped onion, cook 2 minutes, then add rice and cook 3 minutes more. Add stock and cover the pot. Raise heat to bring stock to a rapid boil. Once the stock boils, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, 17-18 minutes.
- While rice cooks, make the chicken. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, then the chicken. Season the chicken with grill seasoning. Brown the chicken on all sides, season with soy sauce then remove chicken and set aside. In the same pan add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and add the remaining onions, garlic and peppers. Cook 2 to 3 minutes then add water chestnuts, green peas , the chicken and mix together.
Add the chipotles and cumin. Toss to coat. Glaze the mixture with honey and maple syrup and turn off the heat. - Add in the chopped cilantro and the cashew nuts
- Top rice with cashew chicken and serve.
- If desired, sprinkle each dish with additional cilantro and cashews
Notes
- ** If you can't find the chipotle in adobo you can substitute 11/2 tablespoons ground chipotle powder.
- Have all the ingredients prepared ahead of time and the steps fall together easily.
- Adapted from a Rachel Ray recipe: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachel-ray/chipotle-cashew-chicken-with-brown-rice-recipe/
Nutrition
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Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
This sounds delicious Marisa! Love all the spices, and then the touch of sweet from the maple syrup! And the crunchy cashews are such a great topping! This is weeknight dinner I need to try!
Jo says
Flavor .. flavor ..flavor! That’s what I love about this delicious looking chipotle chicken is. Love chipotle chicken and my favorite way to eat it is with brown rice as well. Too good!
Lorie says
The combo of cashews and chicken is one of our family’s favorites. But we have never tried it like this! Can’t wait to try it!
Daniela says
Always looking for good and simple weeknight chicken dinners and this looks like a winner! Thanks so much for sharing :).
Kiki Johnson says
I’ve had cashew chicken but never with chipotle! This sounds so incredible – love the smokiness of chipotle and paired with the cashew nuts – a winner!
Tammy says
Honestly, I miss the old Food Network. I grew up watching Emril live, Two Fat Ladies, and it was just the best…definitely inspired me to get into the kitchen with my mom and fueled my interest in cooking at an early age. This cashew chicken looks so good and I bet it is delicious!
Natalie says
I absolutely love how you paired cashews with chicken here. I mean I never occured to me to do it. But flavors are amazing I bet. This is super easy to make and so healthy, nutritious. It’s perfect dinner. Can’t wait to try it!
Analida Braeger says
Any stir fry with cashew is good! I am going to make this very soon it looks amazing .
Alisha Rodrigues says
Brown rice is so good for health and I’m always looking out for recipes to make brown rice look more fancy on our dinner table. I love the fact you’ve combined it with chipotle, cashew and chicken. What an awesome combination
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says
The flavors in this dish sound divine, what a great weeknight meal! I agree, it’s such a shame how the Food Network has changed now!
Elaine Benoit says
Chipotle in adobo sauce is one of my favorites! I love the flavors it brings out in dishes. Your chicken brown rice looks so delicious! I love the addition of the cashews as they are my favorite nut! This is a must make!
Pam Greer says
I remember those early Food Network Days too! It was such fun and everyone had such enthusiasm. I can see why you would be intrigued by this recipe, what a blending of cuisines! It sounds delicious!
Susie says
Hi Marisa, I’m anxious to try this recipe…….Our kind of meal…..quick, easy, tasty with all the right ingredients. Plus, it’s different from the ho hum…..Yes, I agree with you about food Network. I still follow Ina and sometimes Giada. I enjoy watching Giada cook in Italy….Stay warm….We’re experiencing history breaking weather in Az….Our grandsons went sledding on golf course…..They said it was the best day ever😊😊😊😊Their first time playing in snow☃️
Denise says
I agree that those are unusual ingredients to use together in a dish and I too am intrigued. Especially because you have such a wonderful recipes and I trust your judgement. Can’t wait to give it a try! My hubby and I love mixing nuts in a our dishes…. especially rice dishes.
Lois Christensen says
Looks like the perfect recipe to make on a busy night this week for my family. Thanks!
Jenni LeBaron says
Yum! I would have never thought to use some of these flavors together but I think they look brilliant! I especially love the sweetness from the maple syrup with the smoke spice from the chilis in adobo sauce. This dish definitely packs some serious flavors.
Emmeline says
This looks so yummy! And perfect for someone like me who’s obsessed with anything Asian or Mexican!
Veena Azmanov says
You have me at cashews and chipotle… and then brown rice.. Yum!! This sounds so flavorful and easy to make. I am going to have to try making this soon. My kids would sure love this.
Danielle Wolter says
i remember the days of the food network. when it first became popular i think i spent all my tv time watching it. I particularly loved iron chef. Great times. I don’t have cable anymore, so I pretty much read magazines and cookbooks for food fun. anyways, this chicken sounds amazing. Chicken thighs and cashews=yum!
Mahy Elamin says
This is a fantastic dish! It has been one of my family’s favorites for quite a while now. Sweet and spicy!
Gloria says
I love the combination of chicken and cashews. Add in some chipotle (cause we like the spicy heat), and this sounds like one delicious dinner to me. I think I have all the ingredients to make this. Might just be the plan for dinner tomorrow.
Claudia Lamascolo says
Marisa this is a dish I would love so would my husband. We are so bored with the same old cuisine and this is something different. I love everything in it and it sure looks like a tasty dish. I think I will go print this off so we can have it this weekend. Thanks for being so versatile I love all your recipes
Marisa Franca says
Thank you, Claudia! It really is a terrific recipe. The whole family loves it and we’ve been making it for years. Have a great weekend.
Donna says
I grew up in Ireland so I missed out on the early days of the Food Network, but I do remember watching a good ol cooking show where you felt right at home with the chefs and the dishes were actually something you wanted to eat at home. Now it’s all about 10 layers of cheese or some meat mousse/jelly?!? I have a soft spot for anything made with chipotles, they have such an amazing flavor, which I can just imagine would be fantastic in this dish, especially with the nuttiness of the brown rice.
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Donna!! We used to have so much fun watching the cooking shows. I remember Mario riding through Italy with his brother on a Vespa. And when he cooked for his friends he was so informative and entertaining. And do you remember Jaime Oliver before he and his wife had a baby? His cooking was so different. Now it’s more health oriented. I could go on and on with all the wonderful chefs and shows. Wish they were back. We were so inspired!! Try the recipe — it is really good. We’ve made it many times.
Leslie-Anne says
Yes! The Food Network was about cooking and learning to cook and not watching people eat food and compete. Those were good days for sure! I love cashews and chicken together – and so do my kids – I’ll have to give this a try soon!
Dana says
I absolutely LOVE the crunch of cashews added to a veg + rice dish. Not to mention the addition of smokey chipotle. The flavors and textures here are what I’m all about. Can’t wait to whip this up!
Amanda says
I remember the early days of the Food Network! I watched it daily. Way back in the day, I loved David Rosengarten’s “Taste” show. I was a teenager, and it was the first time I was introduced to a savory-sweet apple pie crust with cheddar cheese in it. Defining foodie moment in my life, haha. Your cashew chicken looks absolutely scrumptious. I love the blend of flavors. What a great idea for a satisfying weeknight dinner!
Annemarie says
This looks tasty! The combo of the chicken and cashews and the spices is making me hungry. 🙂 I miss the old Food Network too. Now it’s all game shows and contests. They can be fun to watch, but they don’t get me into the kitchen.
Julia says
Oh, I remember those days of Food Network! It was special time and I learned a lot (A LOT!!!) from all those shows. I don’t have cable anymore but I remember even in the end of my TV-watching era (about 7-8 years ago) the shows on Food Network were already at least half restaurant reviews and reality shows. It was hard to find a good cooking show. I don’t even know what it is now. Are there cooking shows on FN now?
That recipe looks really good and delicious! I kinda wish I had it right now!
Tina says
I remember the good days, before reality Food TV. I would record my favorite shows on VHS and watch them when I could. How long ago that was. I don’t even think my daughter knows what VHS is. This cashew chicken looks perfect for a weeknight meal. Saving this, Rachel Ray has the best recipes for weeknight meals. Thanks for sharing this!
Amanda says
I miss those days of Food Network. I hate that it’s become mostly cooking competitions… just like how MTV doesn’t play music anymore. I love watching old episodes of those shows when I can. This dish is on my to-make list next week.
Gloria says
This looks like a great weeknight dinner that the family would LOVE. I would have a hard time not snacking on the cashews while I cooked this LOL. We are chipotle lovers…the spicier the better. Sounds delicious.
Linda says
I thought it was just me no longer enjoying Food Network! It truly has changed and I’m not one for watching game type shows. I love your Italian inspired blog, you have lots of great recipes. While I definitely cook mostly Italian, I do like some variety and this chicken dish sounds spicy good and healthy!
Marisa Franca says
Thank you for your nice comment. We do love Italian but we also enjoy different cuisines too. We enjoy hearing comments from readers.
Rosemary @anitalianinmyktchen says
Great post Marisa, being in Italy I never got to see the Food Network but my sister always talked about how much she enjoyed Ina. This dish looks amazing, I will have to try it since I love cashews so much. Thanks Buona Domenica! 🙂
Marisa Franca says
If you can’t find the chipotle in adobo you can substitute 1 1/2 tablespoons ground chipotle powder. It needs that smokey spicy taste that makes it so good.
Jovina Coughlin says
I couldn’t agree with you more. I almost never watch the station anymore. It is not about good cooking for the hone chef but about entertainment. I don’t remember this dish but it certainly looks delicious and I love chicken and cashews, so this is a recipe to make.
Marisa Franca says
Make sure the cashews are raw — they have such a creamy taste. I did some that were already roasted — the dish was good but not as much as with the raw cashews.