Name: Malaysian pickled chicken with roti jala
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 4 - 6
Ingredients: 2 tbsp coriander seeds; 2 tsp whole cloves; 2 tsp cumin seeds; 1 tsp ground turmeric; 1 tsp finely grated nutmeg; Seeds from 4 cardamom pods; ½ cinnamon quill; 1.2 kg chicken pieces on the bone; 10 dried small red chillies, or to taste, soaked in warm water for 10 minutes; 10 golden shallots, thinly sliced; 30 gm ginger, coarsely chopped; 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 2 lemongrass stalks, white part only, finely chopped; 120 gm ghee; 375 ml chicken stock (1½ cups); 80 ml white vinegar (1/3 cup); 45 gm caster sugar; To serve: mint and coriander; Roti jala; 320 gm plain flour; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 400 ml thin coconut milk, well shaken; For brushing: melted ghee

Malaysian pickled chicken with roti jala

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Malaysian pickled chicken with roti jala.

Serves 4 - 6

Prep

30M

Cook

40M

Total

1H 10M

The lacy roti jala is perfect with this more-ish curry. Use a mix of chicken pieces on the bone for variety.

Ingredients

2 tbsp coriander seeds

2 tsp whole cloves

2 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp finely grated nutmeg

Seeds from 4 cardamom pods

½ cinnamon quill

1.2 kg chicken pieces on the bone

10 dried small red chillies, or to taste, soaked in warm water for 10 minutes

10 golden shallots, thinly sliced

30 gm ginger, coarsely chopped

5 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 lemongrass stalks, white part only, finely chopped

120 gm ghee

375 ml chicken stock (1½ cups)

80 ml white vinegar (1/3 cup)

45 gm caster sugar

To serve: mint and coriander

Roti jala

320 gm plain flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

400 ml thin coconut milk, well shaken

For brushing: melted ghee

Method

Main

1.Dry-roast coriander seeds until fragrant (1 minute), then grind with cloves, cumin seeds, turmeric, nutmeg, cardamom and cinnamon in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle until finely ground. Combine with chicken pieces, add salt to taste, toss to coat well and set aside for flavours to develop (30 minutes).

2.Meanwhile, squeeze excess water from dried chillies and process in a small food processor or pound in a mortar and pestle with shallots, ginger, garlic and lemongrass to a paste.

3.Heat ghee in a large, deep frying pan over medium heat, add paste and stir-fry until fragrant (4-5 minutes). Add chicken and fry until browned all over (10-12 minutes). Add stock and simmer until chicken is cooked through (12-15 minutes). Add vinegar and sugar, season to taste, keep warm.

4.For roti jala, combine flour and salt to taste in a bowl, make a well in the centre, add eggs and coconut milk, and whisk to a thin batter (it should drizzle from the spoon; if it’s too thick, add a little extra coconut milk or cold water). Heat frying pan over medium-high heat and brush lightly with ghee. Dip your hand in the batter, then drizzle from your fingers into the pan to create a lace pattern (you could also use a squeeze bottle) and cook until just golden on the base (2-3 minutes). Turn and lightly cook the other side (30 seconds), then transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining batter. When cool, fold roti in half. Serve with pickled chicken topped with mint and coriander.