Cashew chicken explained

Cashew chicken
Country:United States
Course:Main course
Served:Hot
Main Ingredient:Chicken, cashews, chicken stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce, vegetables
Variations:stir-fried, deep-fried

Cashew chicken is a Chinese-American dish that combines chicken (usually stir-fried but occasionally deep-fried, depending on the variation) with cashew nuts and either a light brown garlic sauce or a thick sauce made from chicken stock, soy sauce and oyster sauce.

Traditional cashew chicken

The traditional version of cashew chicken is stir-fried in a wok. Tender chunks of chicken are combined with crispy roasted cashews, vegetables and are tossed in a light sauce made from garlic, soy sauce and hoisin sauce, thinned with water.[1]

Springfield-style cashew chicken

The deep-fried version of the dish is closely associated with the city of Springfield, Missouri.[2] [3] Deep-fried cashew chicken was apparently first served in 1963 at the Grove Supper Club in Springfield. David Leong (1920–2020),[4] a chef who moved to the United States from China in 1940, struggled to gain acceptance for the foods of his homeland so he began searching for a dish that would appeal to local residents' tastes. His famous deep-fried cashew chicken recipe was so popular he soon opened Leong's Tea House in Springfield.[5] [6] [7] The dish became exceedingly popular in the Springfield area and is often cited as the unofficial "dish of the city". Springfield even hosts an annual festival that is centered on this chicken dish: Springfield Sertoma's Cashew Craze.[8] [9]

Borrowing from the local love of fried chicken, Leong came up with a variation of the preexisting dish. Instead of stir-frying the chicken, as is normally done, he deep-fried the chicken chunks. He then covered them with the typical sauce made from chicken stock, soy sauce and oyster sauce, and added the handful of cashews. He also included chopped green onions as a twist and it became an immediate hit with the local crowd. As word spread about the dish, so did the recipe. Leong's Tea House closed in 1997, but Springfield-style cashew chicken is still being served at over 70 Chinese restaurants, as well as many non-Chinese restaurants, in and around the Springfield metropolitan area, and elsewhere in Missouri and other states.[10] Springfield-style cashew chicken has been mentioned on The Food Channel,[11] [12] a nationwide syndicated radio program,[13] and the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.[14]

In 2010, Leong's son, with his father's assistance, opened a new restaurant in Springfield serving the same style of cashew chicken.[15] [16] Leong died at age 99 on July 21, 2020.

Similar dishes

In Thai cuisine, there is a related stir-fry dish called kai phat met mamuang himmaphan or kai phat met mamuang.[17] [18]

Almond chicken, commonly served in American Chinese restaurants, is similar to cashew chicken.[19]

In Haitian cuisine, there is an unrelated chicken stew with cashews called poul ak nwa that includes Scotch bonnet peppers.[20] [21] [22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cashew Chicken . Once Upon A Chef . Jennifer . Segal . March 2010.
  2. News: John T. . Edge . John T. Edge . Missouri Chinese: Two Cultures Claim This Chicken . . March 11, 2009.
  3. News: How David Leong Invented Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken . Feast Magazine . March 27, 2015 . Ettie . Berneking.
  4. News: Kull . Katie . David Leong, inventor of Springfield cashew chicken, dead at 99 . . 2020-07-21 . 2020-07-21.
  5. News: Bridges . Amos . Cashew chicken satisfies Ozarkers' palates . . 2006-02-23 . 2007-02-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235159/http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060226%2FNEWS01%2F602260333 . 2007-09-26 .
  6. News: 12 People You Need to Know in 2013: David Leong: Godfather of Cashew Chicken . December 20, 2012 . Brian . Brown . Springfield Business Journal.
  7. News: Creator of Springfield's cashew chicken reflects on 50 years . August 20, 2013 . Geoff . Pickle . Springfield Business Journal.
  8. News: Best cashew chicken declared winner . April 9, 2013 . The Standard, Missouri State University . Briana . Simmons.
  9. News: Springfield Restaurants Going Head-to-Head for "Cashew Craze" . April 3, 2013 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140427054810/http://www.ozarksfirst.com/story/springfield-restaurants-going-head-to-head-for-cashew-craze/d/story/lO583bmdyUKMqD5JCJ7XbA . 2014-04-27 .
  10. Web site: Springfield Restaurants Make Lots Of Cashewed Chicken . . April 29, 1990 . 2A . Jerry . Nachtlgal.
  11. News: Springfield Style Cashew Chicken: Try the recipe or visit this Ozarks city and take a restaurant tasting tour . . February 16, 2011 . Kay . Logsdon.
  12. News: Springfield Cashew Chicken: From The Kitchens of The Food Channel . March 2, 2011 . Springfield Business Journal . .
  13. Web site: Cashew Chicken Springfield Missouri Style!! . February 28, 2014 . . Cindy . Rippe . March 25, 2014 . March 13, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170313131324/http://wixx.com/blogs/food-drinks/1325/cashew-chicken-springfield-missouri-style-2/ . dead .
  14. Recognizing David Leong . . 159 . 38 . March 15, 2013 . E315–E316 . Billy . Long . Billy Long.
  15. Web site: Steve . Grant . New Leong's restaurant recalls origin of famous Springfield cashew chicken . . December 7, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101210115002/http://articles.ky3.com/2010-12-07/cashew-chicken_25011569 . 2010-12-10 .
  16. News: dead . Leong's Asian Diner: The family that invented Springfield-style cashew chicken is preparing it again at Leong's Asian Diner . https://web.archive.org/web/20160318233837/http://www.417mag.com/417-Magazine/March-2011/Review-Leong-039s-Asian-Diner/ . 2016-03-18 . 417 Magazine . March 2011 . Katie . Pollock.
  17. News: Top 10 Thai Dishes You Just Have to Eat . The Gourmet Connection Magazine . Siwawut . Chaiya . . 2014-08-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082652/http://tgcmagazine.com/articles/329.shtml . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  18. Web site: Cashew Chicken (Kai Phat Met Mamuang Himaphan) . Food.com.
  19. Web site: Frederick . Missy . 2018-10-30 . Almond Boneless Chicken Is a Chinese-American Cult Favorite . 2023-05-21 . Eater . en.
  20. Book: Yurnet-Thomas, Mirta . A Taste of Haiti . Hippocrene Books . 2003 . 9780781809986.
  21. News: North Signature Dish – Poul Ak Nwa – Chicken With Cashews; What you will need to make Poul ak Nwa – Chicken with Cashews . June 24, 2013 . Haiti Observer . .
  22. Poul Ak Nwa (Chicken With Cashews) . Lesley . Enston . January 11, 2022 . Bon Appétit.

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