Cambodian Chicken Curry Recipe (Somlar Kari Saek Mouan)

Cambodian Chicken Curry: Somlar Kari Saek Mouan

One of my favourite Cambodian food recipes is Cambodian Chicken curry recipe, but Cambodian Curry is still very obscure among the many curry recipes. When people think of curry, the first thing that comes to their mind is either Indian curry or Thai’s.  Don’t get me wrong, I love them both although they are quite different in taste. However, my favourite curry has always been Cambodian curry. The fact that I was raised on it may be a small factor, but I think the main reason I love it so much is because compared to Thai curry, the coconut flavour isn’t overpowering, and there’s a balance of flavour between the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and shallots. I love how the ingredients just combine together to make our curry uniquely different from Thai’s in both taste and aroma. Yet unfortunately, Khmer curry is still obscure and you wouldn’t find many restaurants in North America that offer this deliciously creamy and fragrant curry. 

Main Ingredients in Cambodian Chicken Curry Recipe

The main ingredients in Cambodian curry recipe are coconut, shrimp paste (kaapi), and kroeung. Shrimp paste or shrimp sauce is a common ingredient used in most Southeast Asian cuisine. It is made from grilled or fermented ground shrimp, mixed with a generous amount of salt. Kaapi comes in many forms (sundried whole, sundried and packed into fist-sized rectangular blocks), but the one I am using, and what most Cambodian family uses is the wet form, usually darker brown with a purplish/pinkish hue.

Kreoung, literally translated into ‘ingredients’, is a staple spice in the Cambodian household, and each family has their own favourite kroeung recipe. Some may prefer more lemongrass, lesser galangal or more turmeric, and some like their kroeung on the spicy side (this person here), while others forego the runny nose and sweat-inducing chilli peppers. Regardless of the variation of ingredients, kroeung is always prepared in the same way; by slicing all ingredients into finer pieces, and throwing them into a mortar and pestle, pounding away until sweat droplets begin to form on your brows. In Cambodian household, kroeung is the first thing you learn how to make, as it is a prominent ingredient in Cambodian cuisine. 

Traditionally, Cambodian chicken curry recipe is a very labour intensive and elaborate process. Since there’s no refrigerator in the Cambodian rural area, kroeung are made first (every day), and then fresh coconuts are halved, shaved, and freshly squeezed to get all the coconut cream. The cream is then boiled for an extended amount of time until aromatic oil is separated from the cream. In the rural area of Cambodia, chicken curry is not an everyday dish, as preparation is a long process, but it is nevertheless, very popular for special occasions and celebrations. Most Cambodian household in the rural areas have coconut tree, and potato grown in their front yard or backyard, and usually keep their own livestock; including several chickens which they raise from little chicks. Economically, it’s money smart, they don’t have to go out and spend money, and is absolutely practical, as chicken (and their eggs) are available to them when needed. There’s nothing more fresh and better for you than organic chicken from your own backyard —if you can catch it!

Cambodian Chicken Curry Recipe for Khmer Celebrations

Traditionally, Khmer red curry is considered special food and are usually cooked only for special occasions such as Boun Pchum, or Cambodian New Year. My mother used to wake up really early (5 am) to make her chicken curry recipe from scratch, and it took her practically the whole morning since she pretty much always cooks for an entire army (not even exaggerating, its usually 10 servings or more). Since she made hers from scratch, she also spent a lot of time shaving old coconut and squeezing the shaved coconut to get all the milky cream from it. It was a whole ordeal. Maybe that’s why we only make it for special events. But, because she spends so much time, and put so much love into it, her chicken curry always comes out amazing. 

Another great thing about making Cambodian chicken curry recipe from scratch is the actual use of real coconut cream and fresh turmeric. You’d be surprised at all the health benefits of coconut cream, along with Turmeric and its anti-inflammatory benefits. But that is what makes Cambodian food delicious; all of its fresh ingredients that were made each and every day with a mortar and pestle (kroeung). Anyways, if you love Thai curry, you will definitely love ours, so give it a try! Of course, in this more modernized version of Cambodian chicken curry for busy people, there will be no cracking, shaving and squeezing of coconut as we will be using the canned coconut milk.

How to make Chicken Curry with Cambodian Lemongrass Paste

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Cambodian Chicken Curry Recipe

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 30 mins

 

Cambodian Chicken curry is an aromatic chicken curry using coconut milk, red curry paste, Khmer yellow kroeung, and a variety of vegetables. A traditional Cambodian curry that is both versatile and delicious!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Cambodian, Khmer

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 600 kcal

Author: Yuen Mi | A Wandering Foodie

Ingredients

• 1 kg mature chicken cut into bite size pieces
• 10 pieces long green bean cut into 2-3 inche pieces
• 1 brown onion
• 2 potatoes
• 1 large carrots
• 1 bamboo shoot
• 2 thai eggplants
• 5 pieces kaffir lime leaves
• 2 cans coconut milk 398ml
• 1 1/2 tablespoon shrimp paste
• 4 tablespoon red curry paste
• 5 pieces star anises
• 1 piece long cinnamon stick
• 1/4 cup palm sugar
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 cup kroeung
• 3 tablespoon chicken stock
• 2 shallots
• 2 pieces red eye chilli

Instructions

1. For kroeung paste: in a blender, blend together 1/2 cup kroeung, 3 tbsp chicken stock, 2 shallots and 2 fresh bird eye peppers to make a thick creamy paste.
2. Heat the cinnamon stick and star anise together in an aluminium foil for 3-5 minutes, and set it aside.
3. Heat 1 can of coconut milk in a large pot over medium-high heat. Let it boil, only stirring it occasionally so it doesn't burn. Eventually, oil and aroma are released, and the consistency becomes thick. Love that scent!
4. Add in red curry paste, *pepper paste, shrimp paste, kroeung paste, salt, fish sauce and sugar. Stir on medium heat until most of the liquid are gone, and it is of thick consistency. Remove 1 tbsp of the curry mixture and set it aside.
5. Add chicken and stir. Add the cinnamon stick and star anise into the chicken and stir to mix thoroughly.
6. Once the chicken is completely coated with the curry mixture and is a bit cooked on the outside, add in one can of coconut milk. Let it boil for at least 20 minutes, and then add the potato and carrots. Stir. Let it cook for another 10 minutes.

7. Add the long beans, bamboo shoots, Thai eggplants, white onion and the curry mixture that was set aside. For a more fragrant aroma, tear pieces of kaffir lime leaves and stir it in. Simmer on low for another 5-10 minutes or when the vegetable and chicken are cooked. Taste and adjust with salt, sugar and fish sauce to your liking.

8. Once cooked, serve with a steaming bowl of rice or vermicelli noodle, or even French bread. It goes deliciously with all.

Recipe Notes

*If you like your curry more spicy, make some pepper paste and put in an amount to your liking: Soak large dried chilli in water for 15 minutes. Blend it into liquid. Set aside 1/4 cup of the pepper paste for this recipe and store the rest in a glass container. The pepper paste should be good for a week. The amount of pepper paste you use is depended on your preference. I prefer my curry with a little kick, so I tend to use a lot more when I'm cooking just for myself.

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The amount of vegetables used is really up to you. Some people prefer their curry more watery, and some prefer it more dry or creamy. This recipe, the curry will come out creamy, but if you want more liquid, just ad one more can of coconut milk at step 5 and adjust to taste with fish sauce, salt and sugar.

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