Coconut Lemongrass Rice Food

LEMONGRASS-SCENTED COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• 1. Place the rice in a 1-1/2- or 2-quart saucepan. Fill the pot halfway with cold water. If any rice hulls or small twigs float to the surface, scoop them aside with your hand and discard them. Gently swirl your fingers through the rice until the water becomes cloudy with the rice's surface starch, about 20 seconds. Be careful not to massage the rice aggressively-you don't want to crack or break the grains. Allow the rice to settle for a few seconds. Tilt the pot over a sink and drain out all the water, cupping the rice with your hand to prevent it from spilling out of the pot. Repeat this process with three more changes of water. The water after the first 2 rinses will be quite cloudy; by the fourth rinse, it will be much less so. The water need not run completely clear by the final rinse-slightly cloudy is fine. Leave the rinsed rice in the pot.
• 2. To the rinsed rice, add the tied lemongrass, the cooking water, the coconut milk, the salt, and the daun salam leaves (if using). Stir well to combine, making sure that the lemongrass stalks and daun salam leaves are submerged in as much of the rice as possible.
• 3. Place the pot over high heat and, stirring constantly with a large spoon to prevent the rice at the bottom of the pot from scorching or burning, bring the liquid to a rolling, noisy boil. Allow the rice to boil vigorously for fifteen seconds, continuing to stir constantly. (It's essential that you stir constantly, otherwise the fats and proteins in the coconut milk will cause the rice at the bottom of the pot to become gummy and stick together, which will ultimately lead to the final dish having a scorched or burned bottom layer.) Immediately reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting and cover the pot tightly with the lid. Continue cooking for 15 minutes. Don't be tempted to lift or remove the lid during this time-you'll lose essential cooking steam if you do.
• 4. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the rice to continue to steam, covered, away from the heat for an additional 10 minutes.
• 5. Open the pot and discard the lemongrass and daun salam leaves. Fold the rice over gently with a spoon, distributing the aromatic flavors which may be concentrated in pockets in the rice. Transfer the rice to a deep serving bowl, fluffing it gently with a fork and lifting it into a high, peaked mound. Serve hot or warm. (If serving the rice warm, keep it covered with aluminum foil until then.)

COCONUT LEMONGRASS RICE

Steps:

• Put rice in rice cooker with coconut milk, vegetable broth, garlic, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. Season with salt and stir well. Turn on for white rice setting and cook until ready. Serve with extra coconut milk if desired.

CHICKEN WITH LEMONGRASS & COCONUT

Steps:

• Tip all the ingredients except the chicken, lime juice and herbs into a pan, bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered at a relaxed bubble for 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until the chicken is tender. Stir in the lime juice, then scatter over the herbs before serving with rice.

CHICKEN IN LEMONGRASS COCONUT BROTH

Steps:

• Mince the lower 2/3 of lemongrass stalk. Bruise the remaining upper portion of lemongrass stalk by hitting it with the back of a knife.
• Pour chicken stock into a large pot; add minced lemongrass, bruised lemongrass stalk, 1/2 the ginger, lime leaves, garlic, and Sriracha sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer. Add chicken to simmering broth; cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes. Remove lemongrass stalk and lime leaves using a slotted spoon; discard.
• Place cilantro bundle in the broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Add coconut milk, remaining ginger, brown sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce. Remove cilantro bundle using a slotted spoon; discard. Simmer broth, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add ramen and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Drain and portion noodles into serving bowls.
• Mix carrots, tomatoes, and green onions into broth. Ladle broth over noodles; garnish with cilantro.

CREAMY COCONUT LEMONGRASS AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO WITH SCALLOPS

Steps:

• To make the coconut base: Melt butter in a pot. Toss in onion, lemongrass and garlic and sweat off for about 2 minutes or lightly transparent.
• Add curry powder and cook over a low heat for another 2 minutes.
• Add wine, bring to the boil, and reduce on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add coconut cream and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Puree with a stick mixer or blender and strain. Use 1 cup of this mixture to use in the risotto and keep it warm. Reserve and freeze rest of this liquid for another time if you wish.
• To make the risotto: Put fish stock in a pot and bring to the boil, then reduce to a slow simmer.
• Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a heavy base saucepan, add 1 Tablespoon of the butter then cook the shallots and asparagus pieces (NOT THE SPEAR TIPS). Cook over a low heat for 3 minutes.
• Add rice and turn up heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add wine and let it evaporate.
• Lower heat then start adding stock, a ladle at a time, stirring occasionally, until rice is almost tender, about 20 minutes.
• Add coconut base and cook another 5 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove from heat and rest for 2 minutes before folding in remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter.
• In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to the boil, blanch asparagus tips for 30 seconds, drain, then refresh under cold , drain again and put aside.
• Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan until hot. Cook scallops in batches for 30 seconds on each side. Season with salt and pepper, keep warm and set aside.
• Add asparagus spears to pan to heat through.
• Dish risotto into bowls, top with asparagus spears and scallops and drizzle with a little olive oil.

LEMONGRASS INFUSED COCONUT JASMINE RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Toast angel hair in toaster oven on light toast setting. Keep a close eye being careful not to burn.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in the rice and toasted angelhair and salt.
• Add the coconut milk, water and lemongrass.
• Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 20 minutes (do not uncover or stir while it cooks).
• Remove from heat and discard lemongrass before serving.