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    Home » Recipes » Chicken & Turkey

    Braised Chicken with Cashew Gravy

    Published: Feb 22, 2016 · Modified: Sep 11, 2022 by Sally Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

    595 shares
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    Chicken with gravy. Just the mention might conjure up happy memories of a family dinner at your grandmothers and make your mouth water. And that gravy. It was the best part, right? Unfortunately classic gravy is made with white flour and dairy milk. If you eat gluten-free, dairy-free or grain-free, you might have given up on enjoying rich, sigh-worthy gravy, until now! Try this rich and satisfying braised chicken with cashew gravy.

    Chicken breasts on a platter with gravy boat.
    Chicken breasts on a platter with gravy boat.

    Braised Chicken with Gravy

    Last week I promised to post one of my favorite recipes I created for Dr. Mark Hyman's fantastic new book, Eat Fat Get Thin. Braised chicken with cashew gravy is an American classic recipe re-born without gluten, grain or dairy. The secret ingredient for that rich, creamy taste is none other than cashew butter.

    Braised Chicken with gravy in a wide shallow pan.
    Braised Chicken with gravy in a wide shallow pan.

    How to Eat Fat and Get Thin

    For decades it's been falsely drilled into us that fat is the enemy. Dr. Hyman blows the lid off our fear of fat. He teaches us not only why, but how to embrace the health and weight-loss benefits of a diet rich in healthy fats like avocados, eggs, coconut, fatty fish, grass-fed meats, and one of my ingredients - nut butters.

    What is Braising?

    Braising is a traditional two-step cooking method.  It's often done with tougher cuts of meat and a long cooking process, which turns tough cuts into something tender. Braising is easy, hands-off and fool proof. Braising works for tender moist chicken breasts too, and they cook in 20-25 minutes.

    Trimming bone-in chicken breasts.
    Trimming bone-in chicken breasts.

    Start the Chicken

    To start, trim the small ribs and extra fat from the breasts. Season and cook until golden in a little olive oil. Turn the chicken over and pour a flavorful blend of almond milk, chicken broth, garlic, Dijon mustard, thyme and cashew butter around the chicken. Sprinkle in the thyme. Top with a lid and finish the chicken in the oven.  In 20-25 minutes your chicken will be cooked to moist perfection.

    Great Gravy (Gluten-free!)

    To make the gravy, remove the chicken to a plate and keep warm. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat (gentle bubbles) and whisk in a little arrowroot starch and water mixture which thickens the sauce into gravy. That's it.

    You will probably have extra gravy, as a serving is ½ cup per person. Leftover gravy reheats well and keeps tightly covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    If you missed the post on Eat Fat Get Thin, you can read it here.

    Chicken with gravy on a plate for dinner.
    Chicken with gravy on a plate for dinner.

    Braised Chicken with Cashew Gravy

    Sally Cameron
    Cashew butter gives the gravy an amazingly smooth richness, a delicious accompaniment to the crisp-skinned chicken breast. Save any extra gravy for another chicken dish.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 474 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 bone-in-skin-on chicken breasts
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1½ cups chicken broth low or no sodium
    • ½ cups plain unsweetened almond milk
    • ¼ cup creamy raw cashew butter I use Artisana
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 4 cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
    • 2 tablespoons filtered water
    • 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat the oven to 375°F. Trim any excess fat from the tops and sides of the chicken breasts.
    • With a heavy knife or poultry scissors, trim off the small side rib bones for a clean edge. Discard the ribs and excess fat.
    • Over medium heat, add olive oil to a 5½-quart Dutch oven or other heavy pan large enough to hold all of the chicken breasts in a single layer. Combine salt, garlic and pepper in a small bowl and sprinkle over the chicken breasts. Place the chicken breasts skin side down and allow them to cook until they have a golden brown crust, 5-7 minutes. Turn the chicken over.
    • In a bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the broth, almond milk, cashew butter, mustard and the garlic until smooth. Pour around the chicken in the pan. Sprinkle with chopped thyme leaves. Place a lid on the pan and place in the oven. Roast the chicken for approximately 30 minutes or until a digital thermometer reads 160°F-165°F when inserted into the thickest part without touching the bone. When the chicken is done, remove the pieces to a plate or platter and keep it warm covered with foil.
    • In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the water and the arrowroot starch and stir until smooth. Add the arrowroot mixture to the pot with the chicken juices and whisk until smooth. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to cook off the raw taste and for the juices to thicken into gravy.
    • Serve the chicken with a ½ cup of the gravy per person. Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

    Notes

    You will probably have extra gravy, as a serving is ½ cup per person. Leftover gravy reheats well and keeps tightly covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 474kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 43gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 558mgPotassium: 602mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 239IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rhonda Frey says

      May 23, 2022 at 12:51 pm

      This is my 3 attempt at making this dish. Just as great as the first time and everyone loves it!

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        May 23, 2022 at 5:06 pm

        Love to hear that! Thanks Rhonda!

        Reply
    2. Debbie says

      November 24, 2021 at 6:41 pm

      Would this work with boneless, skinless chicken breasts?

      Reply
    3. Julie Sherlock says

      August 24, 2016 at 8:05 pm

      Tried it - most tender pork chops we've had in a while. Thank you for this recipe - it really does make dairy/gluten free very appealing!!

      Reply
    4. Julie Sherlock says

      August 24, 2016 at 5:04 pm

      This is one of my favorite recipes from Eat Fat Get Thin - so rich and satisfying. Would this work with pork chops?

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        August 24, 2016 at 6:19 pm

        Glad you like it Julie! It's one of my favorites too. I hope to develop a turkey gravy this Thanksgiving similar. I think it would work well with pork chops. Let us know if you try it out!

        Reply
    5. Donna Lucas says

      June 30, 2016 at 10:11 am

      What kind of pan can you use on top of stove and then put in the oven?

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        June 30, 2016 at 2:13 pm

        Hi Donna, I use Le Creuset, their dutch ovens and their 3 quart brainer. It is enamel coated cast iron. They are an investment, but last a lifetime. I use the #22 and #26 mostly, which are about 3 1/2 quart and 5 1/2 quart sizes. The brasier is perfect for this recipe. It's a wide shallow pan with a domed lid. See it here on Amazon. http://amzn.to/29eFM2c

        Reply
    6. Denise says

      February 24, 2016 at 5:34 am

      Delicious. Wonder if I can have it done with fish? My youngers don't eat chicken. Definitely I will try this cashew gravy. Thank you

      Reply
    7. Russel says

      February 22, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      Nice.. ok lets see what I can do with this. I can follow instructions.

      Thank Sally!

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        February 23, 2016 at 10:38 am

        Please comment back Russle and let me know how you do. It's really very easy! Any questions let me know!

        Reply

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    chef sally cameron | afoodcentriclifecom.bigscoots-staging.com

    Hi, I'm Sally, a professionally trained chef and health coach. Join me in cooking and living healthy for your best life ever!

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