Work top to bottom — prep ahead while timers run
Gather everything first, then follow the steps
Protein· 1
- 130 g chicken breast (chunks)130g
Vegetables· 3
- 10 g red chili (chopped)10g
- 1 lemongrass stalk (bruised)6g
- 6 g garlic (minced)6g
Sauces· 2
- 40 g lite coconut milk (~3 tbsp)40g
- 8 g chili paste (cili boh)8g
Spices· 3
- 3 g turmeric powder (½ tsp)(staple)3g
- 1 kaffir lime leaf (torn)(optional)1g
- pinch of salt(staple)2g
Cut the chicken breast into chunks and rub with turmeric and a pinch of salt; marinate 5 min.
Why? Coat the chicken with turmeric first: its curcumin is fat-soluble, so rubbing it on locks in colour, cuts any gaminess, and gives the dish its signature golden base.Tip: Turmeric stains hands — wear gloves or scrub with lemon afterwards.
Next up:In a dry non-stick pan, add the garlic, cili boh, red chili, lemongrass and lime leaf; toast over low heat for 2 min until fragrant.
In a dry non-stick pan, add the garlic, cili boh, red chili, lemongrass and lime leaf; toast over low heat for 2 min until fragrant.
Why? Toast the aromatics with no oil: cili boh and lemongrass hold enough moisture to release their fragrance on pan heat alone — saving a whole spoon of frying oil with no loss of aroma.Watch out: Keep the heat low in a dry pan — cili boh scorches fast; splash in a little water at the first whiff of burning.Next up:Add the chicken and stir-fry 4 min until opaque, then add half a cup of water and simmer 5 min until cooked through.
- 5 min · hands-free
Add the chicken and stir-fry 4 min until opaque, then add half a cup of water and simmer 5 min until cooked through.
Why? Simmer the chicken in water before the coconut milk goes in: that way the santan is heated only briefly at the end and won't split, while every piece soaks up the broth.05:00Next up:Pour in the lite coconut milk, stir gently over low heat for 2 min to a bare simmer, season with salt to taste.
Pour in the lite coconut milk, stir gently over low heat for 2 min to a bare simmer, season with salt to taste.
Why? The key makeover step: lite coconut milk instead of full-cream drops fat from about 24 g to 14 g per 100 g — the coconut richness stays, the fat load falls sharply.Tip: Don't boil hard once the santan is in — a gentle bubble is enough; high heat makes it curdle and split.