Thai Sweet Basil Chicken with Cashews


-Serves 4
Perfectly sweet, sour, spicy and packed with flavor, my Thai sweet basil chicken recipe is not only easy to make but ready in less than 20 minutes. Serve it with Thai Jasmine rice and sautéd vegetables of your choice for a tasty and super-healthy meal. Enjoy the recipe!

Ingredients for Thai Sweet Basil Chicken

600g boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces 
1 tablespoon light soy sauce 
1 teaspoon corn starch
3 tablespoons coconut oil, for stir-frying
15-20 raw cashews
10 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
1-3 fresh red or green bird's eye chilies, finely chopped 
​1 red bell pepper, cubed
1/2 red onion, cubed
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1.5 teaspoons sugar or 1 tablespoon honey 
1 tablespoon Kecap Manis (or Thai dark soy sauce)
1 big handful of Thai holy basil leaves or sweet basil leaves
1/2 tablespoon lemon/lime juice
4 half-fried eggs, to serve

Recipe
1. Place chopped chicken thighs in a bowl. Add light soy sauce and corn starch - stir well and set aside.
2. Heat 1-2 tablespoons oil in a wok on medium flame. Once hot, reduce heat to low and add cashews; fry for a few minutes until golden brown. Set aside. ​
3. Add another tablespoon oil in the same wok on high heat; add garlic and chilies. Stir-fry garlic and chilies for about 20 seconds until fragrant. 
4. . Toss in the chicken. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until chicken is no longer pink.
5. Add a splash of water if chicken starts getting too dry. Add onions and peppers. Stir-fry for another couple of minutes until onions are translucent. 
6. Add oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and dark soy sauce. Keep stirring for another 1-2 minutes until chicken is well coated in the thick sauce.
7. Add lemon/lime juice. Grab a handful of basil, toss it into the pan, then fold it into the chicken. Immediately turn off the heat; basil really only needs a few seconds to cook, and it will continue to wilt and cook from the latent heat of the chicken. Overcooking basil will make it chewy and less flavorful.
8. Garnish with fried cashews and serve with Thai jasmine rice and half-fried eggs.
For more delicious recipes, check out our upcoming hands-on cooking classes in Downtown Singapore.
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