Best Kaffir Coconut Stew Recipes

SPICED CHICKPEA STEW WITH COCONUT AND TURMERIC

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large pot over medium. Add garlic, onion and ginger. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent and starts to brown a little at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric, 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and the chickpeas, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, so the chickpeas sizzle and fry a bit in the spices and oil, until they've started to break down and get a little browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove about a cup of chickpeas and set aside for garnish.
• Using a wooden spoon or spatula, further crush the remaining chickpeas slightly to release their starchy insides. (This will help thicken the stew.) Add coconut milk and stock, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, scraping up any bits that have formed on the bottom of the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until stew has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. (Taste a chickpea or two, not just the liquid, to make sure they have simmered long enough to be as delicious as possible.) If after 30 to 35 minutes, you want the stew a bit thicker, keep simmering until you've reached your desired consistency. Determining perfect stew thickness is a personal journey!
• Add greens and stir, making sure they're submerged in the liquid. Cook until they wilt and soften, 3 to 7 minutes, depending on what you're using. (Swiss chard and spinach will wilt and soften much faster than kale or collard greens.) Season again with salt and pepper.
• Divide among bowls and top with mint, reserved chickpeas, a sprinkle of red-pepper flakes and a good drizzle of olive oil. Serve alongside yogurt and toasted pita if using; dust the yogurt with turmeric if you'd like.

COCONUT LIME CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• For the chicken: In a large bowl, stir together the lime juice, orange juice, cilantro, garlic and chile peppers along with a pinch of salt and some pepper (you are basically making a ceviche mixture). Add the chicken and stir together. Cover and refrigerate.
• For the stew: Bring a pot of water to a simmer and add salt. Simmer the potatoes until tender, 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• In a 6- to 8-quart stainless steel pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onions, mushrooms, carrots and scallions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and browning slightly. Add 2 1/2 cups chicken stock, the lime juice and the potatoes and bring to a boil. Boil vigorously 5 minutes, then lower to a simmer and add the chicken ceviche mixture, the tomatoes, coconut milk, brown sugar, curry powder and the remaining 2 1/2 cups chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper as needed. You may add more brown sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, to deepen the flavor or knock down any acidity, but don't go too far!
• Serve with chips and cilantro.

SPICY HAWAIIAN FISH STEW WITH CREAMY 'POI'

Steps:

• Season the fish with salt and pepper. In a stockpot coated with oil, sear the fish. Add the habaneros, onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, thyme, bay leaves, and kaffir leaves. Cover with water, check for seasoning and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour.
• Squeeze in lime juice and gai choy right before serving. Check for seasoning. To make the poi, heat the cream with the garlic and ginger and reduce by 20 percent. Add the hot taro and mash together smooth. Season and check for flavor.
• Place a mound of poi in the middle of a large pasta bowl. Top off with lots of the fish stew. Garnish with scallions.
• Beverage: Lillikoi Hawaiian Beer.

LION'S HEAD STEW

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the pork with the ginger-scallion water, eggs and season. Throw the pork in a bowl 10 times to compact the meat together. Preheat a large skillet and coat with oil. Make 8 large meatballs and coat with cornstarch. Only brown the meatballs on all sides. Do not cook them through, then drain on paper towels. Place sliced cabbage in the clay pot and top with meatballs. Mix sugar with soy sauces to dissolve and add to pot. Add peel, mushrooms and stock. Check for seasoning. (The flavor of the broth will eventually be the flavor of the meatballs/cabbage, season well.) Top the meatballs with the whole cabbage leaves and cover. Place in the oven and braise for 3 hours.
• PLATING Serve the clay pot family style with small bowls of steamed rice.

COCONUT-KAFFIR LEAF POACHED HALIBUT WITH SAUTEED CHINESE CABBAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F
• In a small pot, over medium heat, heat the coconut milk along with the lemon grass and kaffir leaves and bring to just a boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes, strain. Reheat liquid over medium-high heat, add the lemon juice and place the halibut in the middle of the liquid to poach. Cover with a parchment lid and poach in the oven until just beginning to flake. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• In a large saute pan, over high heat, add the oil. When oil is hot, add the cabbage and saute until hot throughout. Add the vinegar, mirin and reduce. The cabbage will collapse and the liquid will evaporate. At this point add the sesame seeds and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• In a hot bowl add the cabbage first, top with the halibut and then the sauce.

FISH, COCONUT AND CORIANDER STEW

Steps:

• Place the peanut oil in a pan and heat.
• Add the shallots, Lemongrass, ginger, chili and cook for 3 minutes
• Add the coconut milk and chicken stock and bring to the boil.
• Add the fish and shredded kaffir lime leaves (if using) and simmer uncovered, for 10 minutes, or until the fish is cooked.
• Turn the fish over once during cooking. Remove the fish from the pan and keep warm.
• Rapidly boil the cooking liquid for 5 minutes, or until reduced by half.
• Spoon over the fish and serve scattered with the coriander leaves.