RECIPES

Lime Leaf Chicken from Salad King

Salad King is an uber modern Thai restaurant near Ryerson in downtown Toronto. No matter what time of day you visit, it’s teaming with students and fellow foodies getting their fix of Lime Leaf Chicken and other Thai specialties. Surprisingly the only ingredient I don’t always have on hand for duplicating this unique dish is kaffir lime leaves. Fortunately they’re now sold in many supermarkets as well as Asian stores. I usually keep a bag in the freezer just for this dish but you have to add more when using frozen because freezing diminishes their flavor.

Prep Time

PT15M

Cook Time

PT20M

Serves

4

Ingredients

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast(s)

12 Kaffir lime leaves, larg3

2 cups (500 mL) sugar snap peas

2 carrot(s), large, grated

2 red pepper(s), julienned

3 tbsp (45 mL) fish sauce

3 tbsp (45 mL) hoisin sauce

3 tbsp (45 mL) oyster sauce

3/4 cups (175 mL) water

1 tbsp (15 mL) sugar

1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil

2 tbsp (30 mL) Thai red curry paste

2 tbsp (30 mL) hot curry paste

Instructions

1 Prepare and measure out all ingredients before beginning to cook. Prepare them up to a day ahead if you like – just refrigerate the chicken. Trim fat from chicken, then slice into ¼ inch (0.5 cm) thick strips. Cut strips into bite-size lengths.
2 Slice the hard central ribs from lime leaves and discard. Stack leaves and sliver as thin as possible. They should measure about ¼ cup (60 mL). Remove tip of each sugar snap pea and pull the string from the top. Grate carrots using a food processor. They should measure about 2 cups (500 mL). Slice peppers into bite-size julienne strips. Stir fish sauce with hoisin, water and sugar.
3 Place a large wide frying pan or saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and curry paste and stir constantly for 3 minutes. Then add the fish sauce mixture and lime leaves. Boil gently to soften leaves and develop flavor, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
4 Add all the chicken and carrots. Increase heat to medium-high. Stir frequently until chicken is no longer pink, from 3 to 5 minutes. Finally add the peppers and sugar snap peas. Stir often until peas and peppers are done as you like, about 3 more minutes. Serve immediately over rice.