Cashew and Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips!

This meal was really good and really easy.  Even if you don't like coconut (like the texture) this meal is epic and the crust turns out so perfectly crunchy.  Yum yum!

I got the recipe from Carlsbad Cravings - this website has quickly become one of my favorites.  Every meal we've made from it has turned out so incredibly well!

My mom and dad absolutely love coconut so I'm sure they'd love this one!

• Cashew Coconut Chicken Tenders
• 12 chicken tenders (just over 2 pounds)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 cup toasted cashews
• ½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 
  Mango Honey Dip
• 2 mangos, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1-2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 3 green onions, roughly chopped
• 1-2 teaspoons red chili flakes

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add cashews and coconut flakes to blender or food processor and process until cashews are about the size of the panko crumbs, scraping the sides of the blender as needed. Add cashews/coconut, panko, chicken tender spices and brown sugar to a shallow dish and mix until evenly distributed.
   
2. Place the flour in another shallow dish. Whisk the egg with the lime juice in another shallow dish. Working with one chicken tender at a time, dredge in flour and then dip in egg, and then finally coat in the coconut/cashew/panko mixture, pressing mixture into chicken with your fingers to make sure the coating sticks.  (I had a hard time taking pictures since my fingers were covered in egg and breading)
3. Place chicken tenders on a foil-lined baking sheet (for easy clean up!) with a baking rack on top that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Lightly spray chicken with non-stick cooking spray for extra crispiness (optional). Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until juices run clear. Broil until coconut is nicely golden, and panko crisp, but still light in color.
4. To make the Mango Honey Dip, place all the ingredients in a blender, starting with just 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes and process until smooth. Taste and add additional red pepper flakes as desired.

The only thing Brent and I did NOT like about this meal (other than the Zataran's Caribbean Rice I made for a side) was the Mango Honey Dip.  There was just something about it.  It was too runny and I really didn't like how vinegary it was.  I think next time I'd rather just drizzle a little honey over them or buy a mango chutney.  Or maybe I could just try it again without the vinegar.

The chicken strips were so incredibly crispy and delicious and the egg and lime juice wash added a perfect kick.  I'm excited to try this one again!