Asian - Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Vegetarian (or easy fix)
Recipe:
1 can (14-19 oz) unsweetened coconut milk
about 1 T. Thai curry paste*
½ lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
2 T fish sauce
3 T brown sugar
1 can (15 oz) julienned bamboo shoots
10 (5 pairs) fresh kaffir lime leaves**
1 – 1.5 c. Thai basil leaves
1 ½ c. uncooked Jasmine rice.
Put rice and 3 c. water in rice cooker. Start.
Open coconut milk (DON’T SHAKE) and scoop the thick “cream” that’s on top into a wok. Over medium heat add curry paste and stir til it gets warm and melty-blended. “Boil” for 2 minutes. Add chicken and stir-fry til it’s mostly cooked. Add the rest of the coconut milk and cook 1 minute. Tear lime leaves in half and add to wok. Cook one minute. Add bamboo shoots, sugar and fish sauce. Stir in til sugar dissolves. Continue simmering for about 5 minutes (or until you’re sure chicken is cooked through and any extra veggies are as done as you want them). Pick out lime leaves (they’re tough and you probably don’t want to chew through them. Turn off heat and add basil. Stir just til basil is wilted and mixed. Serve over rice.
NOTES:
* More or less to suit your taste. Our favorites are Massaman and Panang and can be purchased in most Asian markets in 1-2 c. tupperware-like containers. Massaman has more flavor for less heat. They last indefinitely in the fridge.
** If you can’t find lime leaves, you may substitute the zest of one lime.
Both the lime leaves and Thai basil freeze well. The lime leaves can go straight in the freezer. Strip the basil leaves off the stems, rinse, shake (relatively) dry in a salad spinner or colander, and put loosely in a freezer bag.
You can, of course substitute other veggies for the bamboo shoots or just add more. We’ve enjoyed onions, zucchini (add closer to end of cooking so they don’t get mushy), and most strangely delicious – artichoke hearts.
You can find EVERY SINGLE INGREDIENT in this recipe (plus a plethora of other tasties including an amazing produce section) at Lee Lee’s Oriental Market in Chandler at the NE corner of Warner and Dobson.