The taste of East: Khao man gai (chicken with rice)

Some time ago we introduced you to different types of rice in Thai cuisine and promised to introduce you to some of the healthiest foods in the country. Here we go!

Since we already know that rice is a main food for Thai people and is eaten with most dishes, including desserts, I chose to share a recipe for chicken with rice or also called Khao man gai. This dish contains lots of protein and carbohydrates. Khao man gai has various variations, usually served with a spicy dipping sauce.

For chicken:
2 quarters of water
1 whole chicken (3kg)
1 head of garlic
1 cup chopped fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar

For rice:
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
4 pieces of ginger, coarsely chopped
2 cups of unleavened jasmine rice
2 cups chicken broth
3 pandan leaves (optional)

For the sauce:
⅓ cup of peeled, coarsely chopped ginger
4 red chili peppers
½ cup fermented soybeans
1 head marinated garlic
⅓ cup white vinegar
⅓ bowl of soy sauce

For the garnish:
fresh cilantro (optional)
sliced cucumbers (optional)

Method of preparation:
Boil the water in a large pan / pot. Put chicken, garlic, ginger, salt and sugar inside. After boiling, simmer for 35 minutes. Take out the chicken and cover it to keep it warm by setting it aside.

Then heat the coconut oil in a rice bowl or heavy-bottomed saucepan with a lid. Add garlic, shallots, ginger and pandan leaves, stirring them and watching them until they have golden color and aromatic scent. Once ready, add the rice and stir. If using a saucepan, the rice should boil, then cover and leave it to simmer for 15 minutes.

For the sauce, combine ginger, red chilli peppers, fermented soy, marinated garlic, white vinegar and soy sauce. Blend until liquefied but not smooth.

Peel the chicken meat and cut into pieces. Place it over the cooked rice. Top with sauce (or serve the sauce on the side) and garnish with cucumbers or cilantro.

For a visual example, I chose a slightly different variation of the recipe with the following video.