Ingredients
Serves 4
FOR THE CHICKEN
4 chicken breasts, skin on
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2.5cm (1 inch) piece of galangal, peeled and roughly chopped
2.5cm (1 inch) piece of turmeric, peeled and roughly chopped
3 coriander roots, cleaned, scraped and chopped
1 stalk lemongrass (tender inner core only), chopped
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp palm sugar
150ml coconut cream
FOR THE PEANUT DRESSING
½ cup fried or roasted peanuts
75ml shaoxing wine
100ml light soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
3 tbsp palm sugar
2 tbsp lime juice
FOR THE SALAD
50g dried glass noodles
2 Lebanese cucumbers, julienned
2.5cm (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, finely shredded
4 spring onions (scallions), sliced
6 dried cloud ear mushrooms, soaked in boiling water and sliced
½ cup coriander leaves
1 large red chilli, sliced
50g green oak leaf lettuce
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Method
FOR THE CHICKEN
Combine the garlic, galangal, turmeric, coriander roots and lemongrass in a mortar and pound to a smooth paste. Mix in the fish sauce, palm sugar and coconut cream until combined. Place the chicken breasts in a bowl and add the marinade. Place in the refrigerator and leave overnight.
FOR THE DRESSING
Pound the peanuts to a paste in a mortar and then add the remaining ingredients, mixing until the sugar is dissolved.
TO COOK CHICKEN
Heat the barbecue to medium and brush with vegetable oil. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill skin side down, for about 5 minutes or until the skin is golden and crispy. Turn and cook another 5-10 minutes until cooked through, brushing with the marinade occasionally.
FOR THE SALAD
Soak glass noodles in boiling water until soft (approx. 10 minutes) and then drain. IN a bowl, place all the salad ingredients except the sesame seeds and mix gently. Transfer to a serving platter and then spoon over the peanut dressing. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Slice the cooked chicken and transfer to serving plate with the salad.
This recipe comes courtesy of Spirit House cooking school chef Annette Fear from Spirit House’s cookbook, ‘Hot Plate: Asian-Inspired Barbecue’. To read more in our blog book review, visit http://www.agfg.com.au/Blog/post/2011/11/17/2011-Christmas-Gift-Guide.aspx