Chicken Chili

By Jen -

Many years ago, a friend gave me this recipe and its been a family favorite ever since. It was one of the dishes that my faraway child asked me to help her cook in Malaysia and it turned out to be very easy to get all the ingredients from her local market. 

RECIPE:
  • 1-2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil 
  • 2 medium onions
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro (coriander) or 1/2 tsp dried/ground coriander seeds
  • 2 Tbsp. lime juice - or more to taste
  • 1 tsp ground cumin - I like to add a bit more but I wait for final seasoning taste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper sauce (peri peri sauce would work great) - optional
  • salt and pepper 
  • 1 small can of corn kernals. In the USA white "shoepeg" corn or hominy works great too
  • 1 can (15-16 ounce) great northern beans - or cannellini beans
  • I can (15-16 ounce) butter beans
  • 2 cups boneless chicken thighs - chopped into bite size pieces.
  • 1/2 cup flour - might take more to coat the chicken. You can season the flour as you like.
*shredded cheese and green onions are a nice addition to put on the table for everyone to add to their own chili bowls.

Ingredients purchased locally in KL

DETAILS:

Prep the meat - chop meat into bite size pieces. 

Put flour in mixing bowl - add some salt and pepper - coat chicken

Saute chicken in batches - get some good brown bits and set aside
 

While meat is frying, cut up onions and garlic

Drain beans and corn

Over low heat, sauté onions... add garlic after the onions have softened.
Burned garlic isn't that tasty.


In larger stock pot - add the beans, corn and onion mixture to meat. Add ONLY ENOUGH stock to barely cover the ingredients. In order to not have runny chili, you need to wait and see how the flour coating on the chicken and the beans will thicken up the sauce. You can always add more stock as needed.

Add lime juice and some of the cilantro when the chili has simmered for about 20 minutes. 
Check seasoning - add more lime or cumin if desired.

Serve with fresh cilantro, shredded cheese and even green onions on the side.

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