This dish is an explosion of flavors! The mint, red chili pepper, lime make a delightful combination for the palate. Add to that the freshness of the bean curd noodles and the crunchiness of the chicken and you have a winner. Frankly, it is one of those dishes that you would want to try just because of the way it looks. Plus, depending on how much sauce (from grilling the chicken) you add to the noodles, you could actually end up with two different dishes. So what do you say? Two for the effort of one? I say: go for it.
Vietnamese Lime and Mint Chicken1
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| Serves | 2 |
| Prep time | 20 minutes |
| Cook time | 25 minutes |
| Total time | 45 minutes |
| Meal type | Main Dish |
Ingredients
- 1 lime
- 2 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, (peeled and crushed)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 Large or two small chicken boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil
- 3.5 oz bean thread noodles
- 1/4 cucumber, (cut into sticks)
- 1/2 carrot, (cut into sticks)
- small handful of mint sprigs
- 1/2 red chili pepper, (seeded and finely chopped)
Directions
| 1. | Peel 1/2 the zest from the lime and cut into fine shreds. Set aside, then squeeze all the juice from the lime and add to a bowl. |
| 2. | In a shallow dish, mix with the fish sauce, garlic, sugar, and ground pepper. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add the chicken to the bowl, making sure it’s coated well, and marinate for 30 minutes. |
| 3. | Heat the peanut oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken skin-side down and cook for five minutes until the skin is browned. Set the heat at medium-low, turn the chicken over, and pour the rest of the marinade in. Cover the skillet and cook for 10 minutes, then uncover and cook until chicken is cooked through, another 5 minutes or so. |
| 4. | Meanwhile, soak the noodles in hot water for 3-5 minutes or until softened. Drain, and mix with the carrot, cucumber, and mint leaves. Slice the chicken and arrange over the noodles. Garnish with the chopped jalapeño and lime zest. |
