Best Thai Coconut Rice Noodles With Chicken Recipes

COCONUT CHICKEN WITH RICE NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Add skin-side down to the skillet and cook until dark brown and crisp, about 8 minutes; flip and brown the other side, 2 minutes. Remove to a plate and wipe out the skillet.
• Off the heat, add 2 tablespoons brown sugar to the skillet and sprinkle the fish sauce over the sugar. Return the skillet to medium heat, stir and bring to a simmer. Add the coconut milk and 1 teaspoon vinegar; stir to combine. Return the chicken skin-side up to the skillet and gently simmer in the sauce, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 25 minutes. Add a splash of water occasionally if the sauce gets too thick.
• Meanwhile, halve the cucumber lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Cut the cucumber and carrot into thin matchsticks. Toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• Remove the boiling water from the heat, add the rice noodles and stir to loosen. Let sit until tender, 2 to 4 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water. Shake out as much water as possible.
• Divide the noodles and chicken among plates. Spoon the coconut sauce on top. Serve with the vegetables; top with the mint.

KHAO SOI GAI (NORTHERN THAI COCONUT-CURRY NOODLES WITH CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Make the curry paste: Bring 1/4 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the dried chiles and makrut lime leaves (if using) to a small bowl; pour the boiling water on top and let steep for 10 minutes.
• While the mixture steeps, separate the cilantro leaves from the stems; set leaves and any tender stems aside for garnish. Roughly chop cilantro stems and add to a small food processor (or the bowl of a large mortar and pestle) along with the shallots, turmeric, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, curry powder, shrimp paste (if using) and lime zest.
• Add the soaked chile mixture (including its liquid) and process (or crush with a pestle) until curry paste is smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, about 10 minutes for either method. Curry paste can be made up to 2 weeks ahead; store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
• Prepare the fried noodles: In a medium (2-quart) saucepan, bring 3 cups neutral oil to 325 degrees over medium-high heat. Add 4 ounces noodles and fry, flipping once or twice, until light brown, 30 to 60 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer noodles to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside until ready to serve. Cool, strain and store remaining oil in a covered jar for another use.
• Heat a large Dutch oven or pot over medium. Add about 1/4 cup coconut cream, scraped from the top of one of the cans of coconut milk, to the pot and let it melt, about 10 seconds. Add at least half of the curry paste - or more, for a more pungent khao soi - and stir until deeply fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 1/2 cups chicken broth and the remaining coconut milk, and increase heat to medium-high. Bring mixture just to a low boil, about 3 minutes.
• Use 1 tablespoon salt to season drumsticks, then add them to the boiling curry mixture. Cover, and let simmer until chicken is cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes. Uncover, lower heat, and add remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock along with 1 cup water. (It should be more like soup than stew.) Season to taste with fish sauce, sugar and salt. Turn heat to very low, and cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 teaspoons salt and remaining 12 ounces noodles. Cook until al dente. Drain and portion into four bowls. Add 2 drumsticks to each bowl, and about 2 cups curry broth. Garnish with fried noodles, pickled mustard greens, sliced shallots, chile paste or oil, reserved cilantro leaves and lime wedges. Serve immediately.

THAI COCONUT NOODLES

Steps:

• Pour a little oil in a large pot.
• Add onion, garlic, red pepper, coriander and cumin.
• Saute until onion has become translucent.
• Add soy sauce, coconut milk and chicken/vegetable stock. Let simmer for 20 minutes to develop flavor.
• Add cooked chicken and rice noodles.
• Continue cooking for ten minutes or until the noodles are softened.

THAI COCONUT CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In the bottom of a pot, stir together the red curry paste and a little coconut milk to combine.
• Saute the chicken until cooked through.
• Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer 10 minutes or so, or until the peas are cooked and the sauce has reduced and thickened to desired consistency.
• Serve over hot cooked basmati or white rice.
• (I have added about a quart of chicken broth to this base recipe to make soup- adding thinly sliced mushrooms and scallions) Serve with wedges of lime.