#22 (16/30)

22. Try 30 New Recipes (16/30)

We tried out a great little Thai restaurant a few weeks ago and ever since then all I can think about is Thai food, so I decided to try to make some myself. I bought a GREAT Thai cookbook and can't wait to try more Thai recipes, however, getting my hands on special ingredients like Kaffir Lime leaves is proving difficult. I checked the local Farmer's Market and found an excellent variety but couldn't find the lime leaves or galangal:-/ Anyway...this recipe is pretty easy, uses ingredients found at most local grocery stores, and tastes great!

Thai Red Curry Chicken

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 to 3 teaspoons Thai red curry paste
• 1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 2 medium carrots cut julienne style
• 5-6 medium bamboo shoots cut into thin strips
• 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps quartered
• 1 tablespoon very finely chopped fresh ginger
• 2 large garlic cloves, very finely chopped
• 8-10 thai chili peppers, finely chopped (adjust to desired heat level)
• 1/2 cup water
• Toasted peanuts and cilantro leaves, for garnish
• Steamed rice and lime wedges, for serving

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk the coconut milk with the curry paste and fish sauce until combined. Heat a large skillet until very hot. Add 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil and heat until just smoking. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add it to the skillet in a single layer. Cook over high heat, turning once, until the chicken is browned but not cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and pour off the fat in the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the skillet. Add the shiitake caps and stir-fry over high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ginger, chiles, carrots, bamboo and garlic, and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the chicken, red curry mixture and the water and bring to a boil Reduce heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken and curry sauce to a serving bowl and garnish with peanuts and cilantro. Serve immediately with rice and lime wedges.