Malaysian Nachos

Ingredients

• Malaysian Sambal Ayam (recipe follows) – cool them room temperature and shred them

• High-quality sour cream 

• High-quality chili sauce 

• Fresh Mint 

• Fry Green Onion Flatbread (recipe follows)

Directions

Assemble everything and pile them high, as much as you like, and to your heart's content.

Malaysian Sambal Ayam (Dry Chicken Curry) Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken (breasts, drumsticks, or thighs), cut into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon chile powder

• 1/4 cup cooking oil

• 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch cinnamon stick

• 1 star anise

• 2 tbsp chili paste/or chili oil

• 14 oz coconut milk

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed or bottled lime juice

Spice Paste:

• 1/2 cup diced shallots or onions

• 1 heaping tablespoon sliced cloves garlic

• 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced into 1/4 to 1/2-inch pieces

• 15 to 20 dried whole red chilies, steeped in hot water for 5 to 8 minutes, slit and deseeded; or 2 tablespoons bottled sambal oelek; or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chile powder (depending on desired heat)  

• 1/4 cup water

Garnish:

• 1 to 2 tablespoons sliced spring onions or chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)

Directions

1. Rub chicken with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, turmeric, and chile powder, if using. Set aside for a minimum of 30 minutes. Brown chicken in a skillet with 1 tablespoon oil. Set aside.

2. Process Spice Paste ingredients to a smooth paste. Set aside.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or skillet and fry cinnamon stick and star anise for 1/2 minute. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and Spice Paste and saute for about 10 to 15 minutes, until sauce becomes fragrant, gradually adding remaining oil.

4. Add ground chili, coconut milk and 1/2 cup of water and stir for about 5 minutes. Add chicken and saute for 2 minutes, then add remaining water and salt and continue to stir until sauce becomes thick and fragrant, and chicken is cooked, about 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Add lime juice and stir another minute. Garnish with spring onions or coriander leaves.

Fry Green Onion Flatbread

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (please don’t substitute)

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cups warm water

• 1/3 cup green onions

• Oil, for frying

Directions

Put flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well, add warm water and stir until dough begins to ball up. On a lightly floured surface knead dough. Do not over-work the dough. Add the green onions. After working dough, place in a bowl and refrigerate for 1/2 to 1 hour.

Heat oil to 350 degrees in a frying pan or kettle. Lightly flour surface and pat and roll out baseball-size pieces of dough. Cut hole in middle with a knife (so the dough will fry flat) to 1/4-inch thickness and place in oil and cook until golden brown and flip over and cook opposite side until it is also golden brown. Dough is done in about 3 minutes depending on oil temperature and thickness of dough.