Chicken Steamed in Banana Leaves

Serves 2-4 people
Recipe & Photos courtesy of Maria McCadden

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves
1in fresh ginger root
1⁄4 t black pepper
1⁄2 t red pepper flakes (optional)
1/3 bunch fresh cilantro
2 pieces of green onion (pale & green parts)
4 T fish sauce
2 t whiskey (optional)
2 boneless skinless chicken breast
Or 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (for quicker cooking remove the bones) 2-3 banana leaves, cut in 6-8in strips
Kitchen twine or lemon grass or other grass blades for tying
Coconut oil for pan-frying

Sweet Chili Sauce

Mix together 1/3 cup of sweet chili sauce with 1 T tomato ketchup and a dash of rice wine vinegar to taste.

1. Place garlic, ginger, pepper, cilantro, fish sauce and whiskey in small food processor (or large mortar & pestle) and combine into a marinade
2. Cut the chicken into smaller chunks – coat in the marinade, chill for at least 1 hour
3. Place a piece of chicken on a sheet of banana leaf, and wrap like a package, secure with a string
4. Heat the oil in a frying pan, medium heat

5. Fry the packages for 8-10 minutes for boneless breast, 20-25 minutes for bone-in thighs turning them occasionally until golden brown and the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Serve with a sweet chili dipping sauce