SESAME CHICKEN WITH CASHEWS AND DATES

Sesame Chicken with Cashews and Dates image

Categories Chicken

Number Of Ingredients 12

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4 tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil
12 slices Ginger, Fresh, peeled and cut into "coins" (2 inches)
7 Garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 bunch Scallions (white and green parts), cut into 2-inche lengths
4 Red Chiles
2 pounds Chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch chuncks
1/2 cup Cashews, toasted
1/2 cup Sherry
3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
4 Dates, pitted, thinly sliced
3 cups Basil leaves, fresh
1 Lime juice, to taste

Steps:

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper while you heat a 12-inch skillet over high heat until it's very hot, at least 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the sesame oil and swirl the pan, the oil should thin on contact. When the oil is hot, add the ginger, garlic, scallions and chile. Stir-fry until the garlic is golden at the edges, 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the 2 remaining tablespoon oil, chicken and cashews, and stir fry until it starts to brown, 4-5 minutes (turn down the heat if the cashews are browning too quickly). Add the Sherry, soy sauce and dates; simmer until the sauce reduces to a syrupy consistency and the chicken cooks through, 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Stir in the herbs, sprinkle with sherry or lime juice, serve over rice.