Coconut Chicken

I call this coconut chicken, but the recipe is actually called Evil Jungle Prince Chicken from Pepper Fool. In fact, I think this dish is more like Thai chicken curry without the curry. It's quite easy to make and still very delicious.




You want 3 stalks of sweet Thai basil and 2 - 4 leaves of kaffir lime leaves.
Note on the kaffir lime leaves. They are expensive. $34.99/lb. Good thing the bag I got with about 30 leaves was $6 because I cannot afford more than that. I froze the leftovers so I can use it at a later date.




I think 4 bird's eye chilies would be enough for a nice kick.
You would also need a stalk of lemon grass.




About 1 cup of bamboo shoots and 1/2 of a large bell pepper, slice. Aren't they pretty?




The thing to do is to put the kaffir lime leaves, chilies, and lemon grass into a food processor and grind everything. However, I do not have a food processor so I just chopped everything as fine as I could. My mom gave me a tub of ground up lemon grass so that made it very easy for me.
In a large pot, heat up 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Throw in the lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, and chilies and cook for about 1 minute.




Pour in 1/2 can of coconut milk and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce. Cook and stir occasionally until the coconut milk starts to boil.




Throw in about 1 lb of chicken thighs that have been but into strips. People always cook with chicken breasts and I have no idea why. The thighs taste delicious and I can get them boneless and skinless for anywhere from $1.59/lb to $1.99/lb. It's not like it's extravagant and I get to avoid dry and flavorless breasts. Enough ranting! Cook them thighs for about 5 minutes or until the strips are cooked through.




Add the bell peppers and bamboo shoot. Stir up that party to evenly coat everything with coconut milk. It should take another 3 - 5 minutes to cook the vegetables.




Toss in tons of basil leaves. You can never have enough basil! Cook until the leaves are wilted and sad looking.




That's it! Ladle it over some jasmine rice, sit your ass in front of the TV, and eat like a champ.

Coconut Chicken = Evil Jungle Prince Chicken

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken thigh cut into strips
4 kaffir lime leaves
2 tablespoons ground lemon grass or 1 stalk
4 bird's eye chilies
3 stalks of Thai basils
1/2 can of coconut milk
1 bell pepper
1 cup bamboo shoot
1 tablespoon fish sauce
vegetable oil

Directions:
Grind kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, and chilies in a food processor.

Heat about 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan and cook the lemon grass, chilies, and kaffir lime mixture for 1 minute.

Add coconut milk and fish sauce to cook until mixture boil.

Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes.

Add bell peppers and bamboo shoot and cook for another 3 minutes.

Toss in Thai basil and cook until leaves are wilted.

Serve piping hot over steamed rice.