Nico Moretti's Thai Chilli Chicken and Basil

[judydawn]

Name of Recipe: Thai Chilli Chicken and Basil

Number of People:Serves 4

Ingredients:

600g chicken breasts or thighs (I prefer thighs)
1 onion, peeled and quartered
1 red chilli, deseeded and roughly chopped (I used sambal olek 1tspn)
1-1/2 tblsp oil
1 tblsp fish sauce
1tblsp sweet chilli sauce
1tblsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)
1 bunch shredded fresh basil, approx 1 cup
3-4 stalks fresh coriander, leaves and stalks chopped
200g coconut milk or coconut cream (adjusted down after the following comments - original recipe uses 400g which is far too much)
fresh coriander leaves and l red chilli, sliced - for garnish

Preparation:

Cut chicken in half or thirds lengthways, then slice across into thin slices.
Place onion and deseeded chilli into TM bowl and chop for 5 seconds on speed 7
Add oil and saute for 5 minutes at 100°C on speed 1.
Add fish sauce, sweet chilli sauce, kecap manis, basil and coriander and cook for 1 minute at Varoma temperature on Reverse + speed 1
Insert Butterfly. Add sliced chicken breasts and coconut milk and cook for 10 minutes at 100°C on Reverse + soft speed until chicken is tender and cooked through. (I thicken at this stage with some cornflour mixed with a little water and cook a further minute as above).  If using thighs, cook 30 mins speed 90^o
Serve with rice and garnish with coriander leaves and sliced chilli. (I serve it with bron's steamed garlic rice)

Please note different time for cooking thighs to that for breasts.

Modifications by forum members.
Thermomixer cut the coconut milk/cream down by half and cook on 90 degrees, and the sauce doesn't need thickening.
Judydawn did as Thermomixer suggested but still needed to thicken with 2 tablespoons cornflour in a little water.
Terese added sliced green beans and unsalted cashews about halfway through for more texture.
Helsbels added garlic paste and umami to give it a hit.

[Karonjulie]

Can I use low fat natural yogurt or lite sour cream instead of the coconut milk?

[judydawn]

You must be on a diet Karonjulie! When I was dieting (as I should be now) I used to substitute Carnation Milk's low fat coconut milk for the real thing.  It works pretty well but sometimes, on different dishes, it used to curdle but still tasted OK. It is certainly worth a try though.  I only did 1/2 quantity tonight so perhaps you could do this to see how it goes.  Let us know.

[cookie1]

We have to try and keep our fat intake down too JD and KJ so I always use the Carnation low fat coconut milk. As you say it may curdle but the taste is fine. Thanks for the recipe-will have to try it.

[Thermomixer]

You must be on a diet Karonjulie! When I was dieting (as I should be now)

LOL !! what is it with the need to diet - I think that there must be some genetic problem that I can look at a recipe, my mouth starts to water, I put on another kilo and think "I should go on a diet"

This recipe is great, but I think that you can cut down the coconut milk/cream by half (freeze the remaining half of the can for next time) and I cook it on 90°C and the sauce doesn't need thickening.

[cookie1]

Thanks for those extra hints Thermomixer, we're having it tonight.

I quite agree with the putting on weight. Everytime I walk down the chocolate aisle at the supermarket I think I put on a Kg.
DH has to keep an eye on his cholesterol, his 60 year old brother had several heart attacks and strokes last year so that was a really good warning. Fortunately he came through it all well. Scarey..........I'll be that big 0 in a few weeks.  At least I'll get  presents.

[Thermomixer]

Thanks for those extra hints Thermomixer, we're having it tonight.

Let us all now if you do try the changes and what you think - everybody has slightly different tastes/ideas of how dishes should look.

.....I'll be that big 0 in a few weeks.  At least I'll get  presents.

Always look on the bright side !!!

[cookie1]

Actually I am quite excited about turning 60.  Age has never really mattered to me very much. I will get a seniors card at 60 and I can't wait to use it at our local greengrocer.  He has 5% off on Tuesday for seniors card holders and has lovely stuff. So wow, I will pay 5% less. I can even go to the movies for $8.50-yeah.

I made the Thai Chilli chicken and have posted my comments in "What are you cooking"

[vixen666]

i made this last week and it was fantastic. Added it to my 'would make again' list   

[judydawn]

I made this for the second time today and used chicken thighs instead of breasts.  Took Thermomixer's advice and used less coconut milk (a 270g tin) and cooked the thighs for 30 minutes on temperature 90o.  Found I still needed to thicken the juices though - 2 Tbspns cornflour mixed in a little water.  Used 2 tspns sambal oelek this time - getting a little more adventurous these days with the taste of chilli.

[Gralke]

I cooked this recipe and was surprised how lovely it turned out. The sauce was absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you for posting this recipe. Will do it again soon but have followed the "concept" of the ketjap manis, fish sauce and sweet chilli sauce several times now and it always turns out wonderfull!

[ralo]

Made this tonight and it was divine

My chicken wasn't cooked after 10 mins so cooked it for an additional 5.

[Caroline J]

Made this tonight, and OMG, DELICIOUS!  My husband groaned in delight and declared it "restaurant quality".  Guess we'll make it again

[jennamez]

I am currently staying with my mother in law while our house is being built..
I cooked this meal, along with the garlic rice......

IT WAS DELICIOUS!!

DH, and MIL, and 10 yr old son, were groaning with delight, it has been added into my TM recipe book!!

Looking forward to trying more recipes, and hopefully adding some of my own in the near future!

[judydawn]

Glad everyone is enjoying Nico's recipe - it is one of my favourites and I haven't found anyone yet who doesn't like it. I even had a friend who took the recipe home to cook on the stove top.