Prawn, Cashew Nut and Broccoli Stir Fry
Prawn and cashew nut stir fry with tenderstem broccoli in a delicious but simple sauce is the perfect quick and easy midweek meal.
This superb stir fry requires very little effort, and it can be cooked and prepared in a little under 30 minutes.
Shrimp, Cashew and Broccoli Stir Fry
I've always got a big bag of prawns in the freezer. I think that they are the very best ingredient to have knocking around to turn into a quick and relatively healthy meal.
Recipes like Portuguese camarao à guilho, Szechuan prawns and Chinese char kway teow all require less than 15 minutes cooking time.
This prawn, cashew nut and broccoli stir fry is just the same, with a cooking time of 10-12 minutes.
The preparation is pretty easy too. Chop a few ingredients and then mix together a simple but delicious sauce of light and dark soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, sugar and white pepper... and you are ready to go.
The flavours are exceptional; it's quick and very simple... what's not to love?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to defrost the prawns?
Whilst frozen prawns can be cooked from frozen, it is a terrible idea when you are stir frying them.
The key to stir fried dishes is keeping the pan very hot, throwing in a load of ice defeats that end.
Can I use regular broccoli?
Yes, you will want to cut the florets fairly small so that they cook in time. You could also blanch them in boiling water for a couple of minutes if you wanted larger pieces.
Do I have to toast the cashew nuts?
I think that they are much tastier in this recipe when they are toasted. But the dish eats perfectly well if you toss them in with the prawns at step 9.
What is chinkiang vinegar?
It is a Chinese black rice vinegar; I swear by it, and use it in most of my Chinese-inspired dishes that call for rice vinegar.
It has a much more complex and slightly mellower zinginess, but you can use regular rice vinegar if you wish.
Can I make this in advance?
No, cooling and reheating this recipe is not a great eating experience.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this prawn, cashew nut and tenderstem broccoli stir fry with some form of rice.
I have opted for some simply cooked jasmine rice, but if you want something a little "more" then you could pair this with egg fried rice too.
Noodles also make a great side dish for this recipe; I would probably opt for a plain chow mein.
Equipment Used
I only mention brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Hob/stovetop.
- Wok.
- Stirring and serving spoons.
- Mixing bowl.
- Kitchen knife.
- Chopping board.
- Colander or sieve (if you need to defrost the prawns).
- A combination of weighing scales and measuring cups and spoons.
Prawn, Cashew Nut and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
Ingredients
- 350 g King Prawns 12oz
- 100 g Tenderstem Broccoli Tips 1½ cups
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 35 g Ginger 1 thumb-sized piece
- 50 g Cashew Nuts ⅓ Cup
- 2 tablespoon Cooking Oil
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
For the Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dark Soy Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chinkiang Vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon Sugar
- 1 Pinch White Pepper
- 1 Pinch MSG
Instructions
- If your prawns are frozen, defrost them by placing them in a colander and running cold water over them for 3-5 minutes.
- Cut the broccoli into bite-sized pieces, cutting any of the stems that are tender into small pieces.
- Peel the garlic cloves and slice them as thinly as you can.
- Peel the ginger and cut it into thin batons.
- Mix all of the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl.
- Heat a wok over a medium-high heat and toast the cashew nuts, keeping them moving all of the time to prevent them from burning.Then set them aside.
- Return the wok to a high heat, add the cooking oil, followed by the broccoli and stir-fry for 90 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds.
- Throw in the prawns and cook for 90 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Add the cashew nuts and the sauce, then cook for a final 90 seconds.
- Turn off the heat and stir through the sesame oil before serving.
