Laksa Chicken with Laksa Leaves
Laksa leaves goes by many names: Vietnamese mint, Vietnamese cilantro, Cambodian mint. If you attempt to find this delightfully fragrant herb in the Asian stores, look for “Rau Ram,” the Vietnamese name. In Singapore (where I am from) and Malaysia, we call it Laksa leaves and you cannot eat Laksa noodles (a spicy noodle soup) without this herb—it just couldn’t taste the same.
If you haven’t taste this herb before, you should. This dark green herb with chestnut-like spots on the leaves is totally refreshing and wonderfully minty. It lends tons of flavor to salads, soups, main dishes and barbecued meats.
Apart from flavor, health experts have given us good reasons to include this herb in our diet. It can detoxify toxins in food, treat swellings, acne, indigestion, flatulence and stomachaches.
Of course, there is the questionable bit about using it as a sexual suppressant as Laksa leaves are found growing in the backyards of monastery but we will not go there. All I can say is that the flavor is worth any negativity.
I created this simple Laksa chicken dish—can be whipped up in 20 minutes and it’s so delicious, you will want it everyday.
Laksa Chicken
- · 2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- · 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (if you prefer a brighter red color, use Korean chili pepper)
- · 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
- · Salt and pepper to taste
- · 3 to 4 bunches of Laksa leaves, strip leaves and shred them coarsely
- · 2 to 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- · 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- · Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Marinate chicken slices in cayenne pepper, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Coat wok with oil and add garlic and onion. Sautee until tender and nicely browned.
- Add chicken and sautee until cook through.
- Add more cayenne pepper, salt and sugar to taste (if desired).
- Turn off heat. Toss in Laksa leaves and mix well. You do not want to overcook this delicate herb.
- Dish it out and enjoy with rice.
Other delicious dishes to try:
Kung Pao Noodles : http://hubpages.com/hub/Kung-Pao-Noodles
Singapore Noodles: http://hubpages.com/hub/Singapore-Girl-Makes-Singapore-Noodles
Thai Green Curry :http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-Are-Thai-People-So-Skinny--Try-Thai-Green-Curry
Ginger Scallion Tilapia with Tofu: http://hubpages.com/hub/Ginger-Scallion-Tilapia-with-Tofu
Comments
Do you know that I have never ever tried laksa before because I am not a fan of spicy food? Wonder if you can laksa and ask them to hold the chilli? Anyway, you have made me hungry and I'm going out for some fried rice. :)
YUMMY !!! I will be right over !
- Author
Oh, wandererh, you don't know what you're missing. Forget fried rice, order yourself a bowl of laksa noodles--ask to hold the chili (broth will be spicy, though) and eat it with a tall glass of fruit juice. I'll die for that. I'm so missing home, just thinking about the food.
Thanks for dropping by and I appreciate your comments.
Tony--haha--sorry, not making that tonight. Thanks for visiting.
Too late! I already had my fried rice. Quite nice. :)
But you are making laksa sound like something to die for, so I really have to give it a try. I will give you my feedback when I do.
- Author
Too bad--fried rice is nice too. Well, when you live 12,000 miles away and you don't get to have laksa noodles whenever you want to--yes, it will be a real treat.
Looking forward to your feedback. Have a great weekend.
As always, love your recipes! I really would like to give this one a try.
- Author
Yes, please. Even if you don't, try throwing chopped laksa leaves in your soup--it's very refreshing. Good luck looking for them in the Asian stores.
Once again, thanks for visiting.
Hmmm...Yummy, it looks delicious. thanks for share about the recipes.
- Author
You're welcome and thanks for dropping by.
This looks easy and delicious. I love to try it, I just wonder where can I get Laksa leaves, I bet it is different from the local cilantro. There were some Korean store here but no Vietnamese or Malaysian store nearby...huhu!
- Author
I'm not sure if you can find Laksa Leaves in the Philippines. I don't know why not, since almost all the Asian countries have dishes that featured this fragrant leaves--Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia. It's different from cilantro but if you can't find it, you can substitute it with basil--taste just as good.
Good to see you back--really miss you while you were busy with life.
This sounds like a "must try!" Thanks very much. Looking forward to your other recipes!
- Author
Yes, I love the distinctive citrusy smell of Laksa leaves. A must try for sure and let me know how it goes. Thank you again, RTalloni for your kind comments.
I buy this one here at Asian store angel, I will just call you angel, Can I?, and this hub makes me hungry now-- laksa with beef, hehe, Thank you, Maita
- Author
Maita, I'm no angel but sure you can call me angel--maybe, it will rub off on me. I've a sneaky streak! Sure, laksa with beef--tell me how yours turn out. And pretty sounds like a good name for u?--certainly suits you! Thanks for dropping by.
It kooks yummy:) Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe. I will try this recipe soon.
- Author
Katrina, it's yummy. Let me know how yours turn out.
Yum..I love laksa. Will try your recipe soon. Rated up
- Author
thanks, jojokaya, I love kaya by the way.
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