Herbal Thai Pandan Chicken Skewers with Sweet Tamarind Sauce

Name: Herbal Thai Pandan Chicken Skewers with Sweet Tamarind Sauce
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 3 cloves garlic; 1-inch piece of ginger; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro; 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves; 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves; 12 pandan leaves; 3 tablespoons tamarind paste; 2 tablespoons palm sugar; 2 tablespoons water; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; Wooden skewers; Sliced cucumber; Lime wedges

A fragrant fusion of herbs and spices wrapped in pandan leaves

Delight in the aromatic symphony of herbal chicken skewers accompanied by a unique sweet and tangy tamarind sauce.

1 h 45 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Chicken Marinade

500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs

cut into bite-sized pieces

3 cloves garlic

minced

1-inch piece of ginger

grated

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Herb Mix

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

chopped

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

chopped

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

chopped

12 pandan leaves

washed and dried

For the Sweet Tamarind Sauce

3 tablespoons tamarind paste

2 tablespoons palm sugar

or brown sugar

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon fish sauce

For the Serving

Wooden skewers

soaked in water for 30 minutes

Sliced cucumber

Lime wedges

Preparation

Marinating the Chicken

Combine Marinade Ingredients

Combine garlic, ginger, fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, coriander, and black pepper in a bowl.

Add Chicken

Add chicken pieces and mix well to coat each piece.

Refrigerate

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for best results.

For extra tenderness, marinate overnight.

Preparing the Herb Mix and Skewers

Mix Herbs

Mix chopped cilantro, mint, and basil in a separate bowl.

Wrap Chicken

Take a pandan leaf and wrap a marinated chicken piece, securing with a skewer.

Ensure the pandan leaves are securely wrapped to prevent the chicken from falling during grilling.

Repeat

Repeat with remaining chicken and pandan leaves.

If pandan leaves are unavailable, banana leaves are a good substitute.

Cooking Process

Grill Skewers

Preheat your grill to medium heat and grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the leaves are slightly charred.

Prepare Tamarind Sauce

Combine tamarind paste, palm sugar, water, and fish sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and the sauce thickens slightly.

Serve Dish

Arrange skewers on a platter with sliced cucumber and lime wedges, and serve with the tamarind sauce on the side.

Plating & Serving