Simple Vietnamese food you can cook from home

SEATTLE — In her new cookbook, "Vietnamese," Uyen Luu shares fuss-free (and delicious) recipes that are easy to make for your family.

She joins New Day NW to demonstrate one of the recipes! 

CHICKEN SALAD WITH SUGAR SNAP PEA VIETNAMESE CORIANDER & SHALLOTS

GOI GA HANH TIM DAU HA LAN

This is a version of a classic salad that is seen at all celebrations, even if it is a weekend gathering. Don't let that stop you from enjoying a burst of flavor on a weeknight. You can use up a leftover roast chicken or buy a cooked rotisserie chicken. You don't have to poach the chicken from scratch if you have leftovers. But if you do poach a whole chicken, you can make chicken pho. Use half the chicken meat for that and half for a salad. Prep the vegetables beforehand and assemble when you are ready to serve.

SERVES: 6-8

INGREDIENTS:

For the salad -

• 3 lb 5 oz (1.5 kg) whole corn-fed, free-range, organic chicken
• 14 oz (400 g) sugar snap peas, thinly sliced lengthways
• 10 radishes, thinly sliced
• 10 Vietnamese coriander (cilantro) sprigs, leaves picked (or Thai basil, mint or coriander), roughly snipped
• Small handful of coriander (cilantro), roughly chopped
• Handful of roughly chopped pistachios
• Seeds of pomegranate (optional)

For the shallot pickle -

• 4 round shallots, sliced as thinly as possible
• 3 tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp caster (superfine) sugar
• pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the dressing -

• 5 tbsp crushed pistachios
• 3 bird's eye chillies, de-seeded and finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 5 tbsp lime juice (from about 2-3 limes)
• 5 tbsp fish sauce

To serve -

• prawn crackers

DIRECTIONS:

1. Fill a very large saucepan with 3 litres (100 fl on 121/2 cups) of boiling water, season with salt and add the chicken. Reduce to a simmer, cover and poach for 60-80 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken) until the juices run clear when you pierce the thickest part of the thigh and the chicken is cooked all the way through.
2. Meanwhile, reserve some pistachios to garnish, then mix together all the remaining dressing ingredients in a screw-topped jar and shake well. Taste for the balance of sweet, sour, salty and heat and adjust as necessary.
3. To make the shallot pickle, mix the shallots with the vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside for about 20 minutes.
4. Mix the radishes, sugar snap peas and any other vegetables you're using in a large salad bowl. Add the Vietnamese coriander.
5. When the chicken is cooked, leave to cool. Tear off the meat along the grain and season with pepper. Add this to the salad bowl along with the pickled shallots and its juices.
6. When ready to serve, toss the salad together with the dressing. Garnish with the coriander, pistachios and pomegranate seeds. Serve the salad with the prawn crackers.
7. I always add a good squeeze of ketchup in there too. Mix well and serve together with the salad.

NOTE

• Try swapping out the sugar snap peas for carrot, papaya, kohlrabi, daikon, courgettes (zucchini), mangetout (snow peas) or a combination of your favorites.

• You can use the chicken stock to make a delicious chicken rice.

Segment Producer Derek Haas. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.