Khao man kai (chicken with rice) with recipe

That's my girlfriend's favorite dish, simple but tasty: Khao man kai (ข้าวมันไก่) or chicken with rice.

Anyone who orders Khao man kai in Thailand usually gets: Chicken, rice, some cucumber, soup and sauce. And although this sounds quite simple, it is still a delicious dish. It is often eaten for breakfast or lunch and is served with a bowl of broth.

Typically Thai? No. The origin of this dish comes from South China and is called Hainanese chicken rice, which stands for poached chicken spiced rice, served with chilli sauce and cucumber garnish. It was made by Chinese immigrants from Hainan adapted from a Hainanese dish: Wenchang chicken (one of the four major Hainan dishes of the Qin dynasty). Variations have emerged in several Asian countries, including Thailand. It is even a national dish in Singapore and it is also a popular dish in Vietnam.

To make Khao man kai, the chicken stock is first prepared by boiling the chicken with spices such as coriander, galangal, and lemongrass. Khao man kai is served with a garnish of cucumber and some fresh coriander, along with a bowl of nam sup (a chicken stock). The accompanying sauce is usually made with tauchu (also known as yellow soybean paste), thick soy sauce, chili, ginger, garlic and vinegar.

In Bangkok you have to go to the Pratunam district for the tastiest Khao man kai (near the Platinum Fashion Mall, CentralWorld and Ratchaprasong Intersection). Some restaurants in Pratunam received a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin guide in 2018. You can also eat a delicious Khao man kai in Bang Sue, Yaowarat and Phasi Charoen near Bang Wa BTS station.

If you travel to Thailand and like simple, tasty dishes, Khao man kai is definitely a dish to try. It can be found in many restaurants and street food stalls around the country and offers a unique take on Thai cuisine.

Prepare khao man kai (chicken with rice) yourself

Ingredients for Khao Man Kai

For the chicken:

• 1 whole chicken of about 1,5 kilos
• 2 liters of water
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 slices of ginger
• 2 spring onions
• 1 tablespoon of salt

For the rice:

• 400 grams of uncooked jasmine rice
• 4 tablespoons chicken fat or vegetable oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 slices of ginger, finely chopped
• 800 ml chicken stock (from cooking the chicken)
• 1 tablespoon of salt

For the sauce:

• 4 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1-2 fresh red chili peppers, finely chopped (to taste)
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar

For the garnish:

• Fresh coriander
• Cucumber slices
• Spring onions, finely chopped

Recipe for Khao Man Kai:

1. Start with the chicken: Fill a large pot with the water and add the chicken along with the crushed garlic, ginger slices, spring onions and salt. Bring the water to a boil and then let it simmer over low heat. Cook the chicken for about 30-40 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool. Save the broth.
2. Prepare the rice: Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Let the rice drain.
3. Heat the chicken fat or oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and ginger and fry until fragrant. Add the drained rice and stir well to coat the rice with the fat and flavors of the garlic and ginger.
4. Add the chicken stock to the rice in the pan and bring to the boil. Add the salt, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and let the rice cook for about 18-20 minutes, or until the stock is completely absorbed and the rice is cooked through. Then let the rice rest for another 5-10 minutes with the lid on the pan.
5. Make the sauce: Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and stir well until the sugar has dissolved.
6. Cut the cooled chicken into pieces.
7. Serve the Khao Man Kai by spooning the rice onto plates with the chicken pieces. Garnish with fresh coriander, cucumber slices and finely chopped spring onions.
8. Serve the sauce separately or pour a little over the chicken and rice.

Enjoy your Khao Man Kai!