Cashew Chicken Meatballs are everything you know and love about Chinese Cashew Chicken….made with meatballs! Plump juicy chicken meatballs and tossed through with green capsicum / peppers and cashews and a savoury Chinese sauce. This is a must try!
Cashew Chicken Meatballs
Monday Meatball Mania is back!!!
Wow you guys LOVED the Swedish Meatballs I shared last month. Soft tender meatballs bathed in a creamy gravy….ugh. How did it take me so long to share that one??
For those not already on board the meatball train, here’s the background: my friend Jo from Jo Cooks and I whole heartedly agree that there needs to be more ball shaped foods in this world. Because ball shaped food are all delish. Think about it, come back and let me know if you think of any ball shaped food that you’re not a fan of. (Other than so-name animal part – doesn’t count!)
And the king of ball shaped foods are meatballs. So Jo and I embarked upon a monthly meatball challenge, aptly named Monday Meatball Mania. On the last Monday of every month, we will both post a meatball recipe. Pop over to Jo Cooks and see what she’s sharing this month!
As for moi? I have for you something a little different. One of your favourite Chinese takeout dishes – Cashew Chicken. In meatball form!
This Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe truly is everything you know and love about classic Chinese Cashew Chicken, except it’s made with meatballs rather than chicken pieces. Beautifully saucy, with tender, seasoned meatballs with green capsicum / bell peppers and cashews.
Fans of meatballs and Chinese food…. one bite and you will fall in love. Completely and utterly. I couldn’t stop. I skipped the rice and inhaled an inordinate amount of these, with Dozer looking on pitifully, disbelieving that not a single meatball fell his way.
I’m a firm believer in learning to make classics the right way. And I expect that in my lifetime, I’ll be making Chinese Cashew Chicken the classic way much more frequently than with meatballs. There’s no denying it takes more hands on time to make meatballs, albeit because of the time it takes to tenderise and marinate the chicken, the classic way actually does take longer from start to finish.
But sometimes, it’s just nice to do something different, don’t you think?
Plus, this is a really versatile recipe. 4 basic ingredients for the sauce: soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine, Oyster sauce and cornflour/cornstarch. Chicken or pork mince (that’s ground chicken to Americans!). Everything else is optional or can be substituted for whatever you have.
And truly, I think you’ll be amazed how delicious the sauce is! You can read the reviews on the Cashew Chicken recipe because it is exactly the same sauce! – Nagi x
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Italian Meatballs – An Italian-American classic, these meatballs are pillowy soft
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Swedish Meatballs – With a savoury and creamy sauce, these are one of the world’s most iconic meatballs!
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Browse all Meatball recipes
Cashew Chicken Meatballs
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe video!
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Chinese Cashew Chicken MEATBALLS!
Ingredients
Sauce - Part 1:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce, ordinary or light (Note 1)
- 1/4 cup Chinese cooking wine (shaoshing wine, or sub with dry sherry) (Note 4)
- 1/4 cup Oyster sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
Sauce - Part 2:
- 1 tbsp cornflour / cornstarch
Meatballs:
- 500g/1lb chicken mince (ground chicken)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, small (Note 2)
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp white pepper (or sub with black)
Stir Fry:
- 2 tbsp peanut oil (or vegetable or canola)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 green capsicum / bell pepper, chopped into 1.75cm / 2/3"
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup cashews, unsalted
Instructions
- Place Sauce Part 1 ingredients in a jar and shake well. Place 2 tsp Sauce into a large bowl that you will be making the Meatballs in. Then add the cornflour into the Sauce jar and shake. Set Sauce aside.
- Add remaining Meatballs ingredients into the bowl. Mix until just combined.
- Measure out a heaped tablespoon of mixture and dollop onto a work surface. Then roll into balls (see Note 2 if mixture is too loose / sticky to form into balls).
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add meatballs and cook, browning as best you can all over, or at least on both sides. Once browned all over (about 4 minutes), carefully transfer onto a plate. They will still be a bit raw inside.
- Return skillet to the stove, still on medium high. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add capsicum and cook for 1 minute. Add Sauce and water and quickly mix - it will simmer quickly.
- Transfer meatballs (and juices on the plate) into the Sauce. Turn heat down to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 3 - 4 minutes, or until the Sauce reduces and thickens (by which time the meatballs will be cooked).
- Stir through cashews, serve over rice!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Just washed him. 🤦🏻♀️ I guess I should be grateful the grass is clear of 💩?
Fida | Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Hi Nagi, this looks really delicious and is perfect for my kids, they love ball shaped food!
Nagi says
Your kids clearly have excellent taste!
Ruby & Cake says
I love your meatball mondays! This is such an interesting take on meatballs they look superb!!
Nagi says
Thank you Ruby!!! PS I’m more concerned about what you will think about my recipe on Friday! ๐
Ruby & Cake says
ooo I am intrigued and excited for Friday now ๐
Mary says
Meatballs make me happy too Nagi. Will definitely give this one a go this week, thanks! What about porcupine meatballs for your next recipe? Mine always turn into a stewy mess and totally non-porcupine looking, I know you would totally nail it!
Nagi says
I just googled it…. oh my….. to strive for porcupiney meatballs….I feel the thrill of a challenge! ๐ N x
Nagi says
Porcupine meatballs???? Googling immediately