vietnamese herby chicken rice

How to make vietnamese herby chicken rice recipe

Serves 4, Total cooking time 30 minutes

Ingredients:
350 g (11½ oz) long-grain rice, rinsed and drained
850 ml (1 pint 9 fl oz) chicken stock
400 g (13 oz) skinless chicken thigh fillets, sliced
6 shallots, finely sliced
2 red chillies, finely sliced
2 teaspoons peeled and grated fresh root ginger
handful of mint, chopped
handful of fresh coriander, chopped
8 spring onions, finely sliced
Nuoc cham sauce
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 red chilli, chopped
1 lime
3–4 tablespoons fish sauce
1–2 tablespoons water

Method:
Make the nuoc cham sauce. Put the garlic and red chilli in a mortar and mash with the pestle to form a paste. Squeeze the juice of the lime into the paste, then remove the pulp and add it to the mixture. Mash to a paste again, then stir in enough fish sauce and water to dilute. Set aside.

Put the rice in a heavy-based saucepan, then stir in the stock, chicken, shallots, red chillies and ginger and bring to the boil. Cover tightly, reduce the heat to low and cook, undisturbed, for 12–15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed, the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the herbs and spring onions. Cover and leave to stand for a few minutes. Ladle into warm bowls and serve with the nuoc cham sauce spooned over or in a bowl on the side.

For Vietnamese chicken, herb & rice salad:
Put 500 g (1 lb) ready-cooked basmati rice, 400 g (13 oz) shredded ready-cooked chicken breasts, 1 shredded cucumber, 1 finely chopped red chilli and a small handful each of chopped mint and coriander in a large salad bowl. Make the nuoc cham sauce as for Vietnamese herby chicken rice, then spoon 2 tablespoons over the salad. Toss to mix well and serve. Total cooking time 10 minutes.

vietnamese herby chicken rice