Khao Soi Gai Northern Thai Coconut Curry Noodles With Chicken Food

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

Steps:

• Prepare the red chilies, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, ginger, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, dried red chilies, and coriander roots (or stems if using) as indicated in the 'Ingredients' section. Add them to a food processor bowl, along with the turmeric powder, coriander powder, ground cumin, kosher salt, and canola oil.
• Cover and pulse into a smooth paste, uncovering as needed to push down the ingredients with a spoon and adding a tablespoon of water at a time to help the paste come along. It's okay if there are a few chunky bits, but try to get the paste as smooth as possible. Transfer to a bowl or small container and set aside. (Note: The paste can be made a day in advance.)
• Cut the wonton wrappers into thin strips - about 4mm wide. Then heat 3-4 cups canola oil in a small pot over high heat (you may need more or less depending on the size of your frying vessel). Once the oil reaches a temperature of 180°C/356°F, turn down the heat to medium-low and add a small handful of the wonton wrapper strips. Fry for about 30 seconds, or until they are lightly golden and crispy. They will rise to the top and crisp up instantly. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain, then repeat until all of the wonton wrapper strips are cooked. Set aside.
• Clean and pat-dry the chicken thighs, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Slice the red onion (or shallots if using), mince the garlic, and chop the red chilies. Rinse and drain the mung bean sprouts and set aside.
• Heat the canola oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat. Once hot, add the Khao Soi paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes, or until the chicken starts to develop color and is coated in the paste.
• Add the red onion, garlic, and red chilies and stir to combine. Cook for a minute or until the onion has slightly softened.
• Pour in the low sodium chicken broth and coconut milk and stir to combine. Then stir in the mung bean sprouts and reduce the heat to medium-low.
• Season with fish sauce, sweet dark soy sauce, coconut sugar, lime juice, chili powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir to combine, then simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Taste and add fish sauce and sugar if needed to suit your taste, then switch off the heat.
• Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions in a pot of boiling salted water. Drain and divide the noodles evenly into four bowls.
• Ladle the chicken and soup on top of the noodles in the bowls. Top with the crispy wonton strips, chopped coriander and mint leaves, and sliced red onion. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing if desired.

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.

CHICKEN KHAO SOI (THAI COCONUT CURRY NOODLE SOUP)

Steps:

• Add all the curry paste ingredients to a food processor and pulse until you get a smooth paste.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and stir-fry the chicken until browned. Remove from the pot and set aside. To the fat left in the pot, add the paste. Fry for 3-5 minutes, until fragrant. Add the canned Thai red curry paste, broth, and brown sugar, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low. When the broth is at a low simmer, add the coconut milk and fish sauce. Add the chicken back to the broth.
• Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to package instructions.
• To serve, divide the noodles among 4 bowls. Cover with chicken and broth, and garnish with sliced shallots, lime wedges, pickled mustard greens, fried noodles, cilantro, and Thai chili paste.

KHAO SOI (NORTHERN THAI LAMB CURRY)

Steps:

• Combine ground cumin, ground coriander seeds, curry powder, turmeric powder and minced garlic in a small bowl. Rub rack of lamb with mixed spices and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for several hours. When ready to make this dish, bring lamb to room temperature before cooking.
• Using medium saucepan, pour in 2 tablespoon cooking oil and start cooking the curry pastes on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, adding the spices, then the coconut cream, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the coconut milk. Bring to a boil, and add the sugar and fish sauce to taste. Simmer for 1/2 hour and check the seasoning.
• Preheat the oven at 375 degrees F. Heat the saute pan with grapeseed oil and season the marinated lamb with salt. Sear until golden brown. Put in oven for 15 to 17 minutes until medium rare. Allow lamb to rest for 5 minutes before cutting into 8 ribs.
• Place 2 oz of wonton noodles in the center of the plate. Place the lamb rack on top and sprinkle with diced onion, pickled mustard greens, lime zest, and cilantro then pour the hot curry on the lamb. Garnish with 2 oz wonton noodles.

CHIANG MAI CURRY NOODLES (KAO SOI)

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and then add the garlic. Toss well and add the red curry paste, mashing and stirring to soften it in the oil, about 1 minute. Add the chicken and cook 1 to 2 minutes, tossing now and then to brown it evenly and mix it with the curry paste.
• Add the coconut milk, chicken broth, turmeric, soy sauce, sugar and salt and stir well. Bring to a gentle boil and adjust heat to maintain a lively simmer. Cook about 10 minutes until meat is cooked through.
• Stir in lime juice, remove from heat and cover to keep curry warm while you prepare the noodles.
• Cook the noodles in a large pot of rapidly boiling water until tender but still firm, as little as 2 minutes for fresh noodles and 7 minutes or more for dried. Drain, rinse well in cold water, drain again and divide the noodles among individual serving bowls. Ladle on hot curry, and sprinkle each serving with the shallots, cilantro and green onions. Serve hot and garnish with crunchy noodle nests as noted in description if using.

CHIANG MAI CURRIED NOODLES (KHAO SOI GAI)

Steps:

• First, make the pickled chilli & shallots: Put the chilli and shallots in a small bowl and pour the vinegar over. Add some salt and let it sit to pickle while you make the curry.
• In a large saucepan, heat the 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Add the curry paste and turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 5 mins, then add the curry powder and chilli flakes. Cook for 1 min more, then add the coconut milk, coconut cream, stock, fish sauce and lime juice. Bring to a simmer.
• Chop the chicken into pieces and add to the curry. Cook for 15 mins or until tender.
• Boil some water in a large saucepan for the noodles. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a small wok - it's ready when a small piece of bread sizzles when dropped in. Add 75g of the noodles to the wok in 4 batches until they bubble up and go crispy. Use a wire mesh ladle or slotted spoon to remove them and drain on kitchen paper.
• Boil the remaining noodles for 2-3 mins until al dente, then drain. Divide the noodles between 4 bowls. Pour the curry over each and top with coriander, beansprouts, some drained pickled chilli & shallots, spring onions and a drizzle of chilli oil. Top with the crisp noodles and devour while it's hot.