Sancocho ( panamanian chicken soup)

Recently, I returned from Boquete, Panama and tried this delicious chicken soup that reminded me of a stew that my mom used to make. So I have created a recipe that is very simple but great for that cold winter day ! :

Ingredients
1 2 medium yukon gold potatoes cut into quarters
2. slice 1 carrot
3 1 large red or white onion cut into wedges
4. 4 chicken thighs with bone ( remove skin if desired)
5 corn on the cob. ( cut into 3 pieces)
6 a stick of cinnamon
7 2 star anise
8 2 cloves of garlic
9 2 teaspoon of salt
10 coriander
11 3 -4 cups of water
12 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil


Method

1 Marinate the chicken with salt.
2 Fry the onion then cinnamon,garlic and star anise.
3 Add the chicken and vegetables.
4. Add Water and bring to a boil for 10 mins then simmer for about 30 to 40 mins until the chicken is tender. garnish with coriander

Serve with rice .

Vietnamese spring rolls

It took me a long time to figure out how to deal with those vietnamese skin they use for spring rolls until a friend of mine shared it with me and I would like to share this with you :

Ingredients :
10 ( or the required number ) vietnamese skin roll sheets

Filling:
bean sprouts
1/2 pound of minced pork
1 tablespoon of chopped garlic,
1 tablespoon of soya sauce
1 teaspoon of five spice powder
shrimp
shredded carrots
lettuce cut into shreds
vermcelli ( bee hoon)

sauce
1 cup of hoi sin sauce
1/2 cup of sweet chili sauce
1/2 of water
a little sesame oil
sesame seeds
1/2 cup of vietnamese chili garlic sauce
mint leaves

Method

1. stir fry the pork in garlic, and add the soya sauce and five-spice powder.
2. soak the vermicelli in boiled water until soft
3. Blanche the shrimp and bean sprouts and carrots
4.Place each skin in boiled water for just a few seconds until it is limp then place on a cutting board.
5 place a little vermicelli onto the skin
6. add a little pork and shrimp,
7 add bean sprouts, carrot and lettuce, mint leaves
8 roll like you would a spring roll, folding the sides in first and then rolling upwards . seal with a little water

sauce

mix the hoi sin , chili garlic sauce, sweet chili sauce, water and sesame oil. Add sesame seeds for garnish.




Good luck !

chicken curry recipe

Chicken curry is one of the simplest dishes to prepare and makes a great accompaniment to steamed rice or basmati. Here is my version you might want to try ( makes for 3 to 4 persons):

4 pieces of chicken thighs deboned and cut into small pieces
1 large potato cut into quarters
1 large red onion or 5 large shallots with 3 garlic cloves and 1 inch ginger
4 tablespoons of curry powder
1 tablespoon of oil
salt


optional :
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 star anise.


Method
1.Marinate the chicken in soya sauce and curry powder
1.Grind the onions, garlic and ginger.
2. fry the ground spices with the cinnamon, cloves and star anise if using.
3. add the marinated chicken and 2 cups of water. ( adjust the water you do not want it too watery)
4. bring to a boil. Then add 1 cup of coconut milk.( adjust the milk to your taste)
5 simmer and add salt to taste.