Khao Suey
Khao Suey: A Burmese Noodle Dish You Can Make At Home In Minutes
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make a delectable and flavorful dish that can impress your guests, then look no further than Khao Suey – a Burmese noodle dish that can be made in minutes. With just some simple ingredients and steps, Khao Suey comes together quiclkly for an easy and a comforting meal. So get ready for this long awaited recipe and take your taste buds on an international journey!
What is Khao Suey?
Its a Burmese noodle dish that is quick and easy to make at home. It is made with rice noodles, chicken, vegetables, and a curry-like sauce. The dish is served with a variety of toppings, such as chopped peanuts, fried onions, cilantro, and lime wedges.
Growing up Khao suey was such a fun dish in our household. Normally my mom would serve it for family dinner when we were all present at the dining table and we would look all forward to it. The fun aspect of this dish were the different sauces and condiments served with the steamy fresh noodles. I especially remember the part where we would dress up the noodles on our own according to our desires. I liked more coconut sauce and lots of BBQ chips for that extra crunch.
History of Khao Suey
The dish known as Khao Suey has its origins in Burma, where it is a popular street food. The dish is thought to have been created by Chinese immigrants who came to Burma during the British colonial era. It is a hearty and filling dish that consists of noodles, vegetables, and meat or seafood in a coconut milk-based soup. It is typically served with a side of lime wedges, chili peppers, and chopped cilantro. Khao Suey is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Traditional Ingredients
Khao Suey is one of those recipes that has so many different variotions. The dish is made with rice noodles, chicken, and a variety of vegetables. My mom made it with small cubes of beef that was simmered in a spicy , tangy tomato sauce, along with a coconut sauce that was thickened with gram flour. The toppings were always the same as well, but the main unique ones were, BBQ chips and chaat masala. These two ingredients elevate the dish on a different level in my opinion.
The traditional ingredients :
-Rice Noodles: Rice noodles are the main ingredient in Khao suey. They are thin and delicate, and are easily available in most Asian markets.
-Chicken: Chicken is the protein of choice in khao suey. Feel free to replace it with shrimp or tofu, if desired. You can also use boneless beef. My mom would make it using beef and I loved it.
-Vegetables: Use any vegetables you like in Khao suey, such as bok choi, onions, garlic, carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage or even spinach. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand.
-Coconut Milk: Coconut milk adds creaminess and depth of flavor to the dish. But you can always replace it with water or chicken broth, if desired.
-Fish Sauce: Fish sauce is a staple ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine. It adds saltiness and umami flavor to the dish. If you cant get your hands on fish sauce, use soy sauce as a substitute.
Modern Variations
One variation is made with egg noodles and chicken. The noodles boiled in a curry soup, and topped with fried onions, cilantro, and lime wedges.
A popular variation is called khao piak sen, which uses rice noodles instead of egg noodles. The rice noodles are boiled in a broth, and then topped with chicken, mushrooms, and green onions. No matter what variation you choose, Khao suey is a delicious and easy way to enjoy Burmese cuisine at home.
How to Make Khao Suey my way, inspired by my mother.
Although this dish is quick and easy to make as it is, there’s still a few things I do to make it even easier. The only ingredients I need a knife for to cook this are onions and chicken. Time to time I will use fresh tomatoes which you can certainly use also but as a new of two I have decided to make this dish a staple throughout the week, and the canned tomatoes help so much.
Here’s how I make it:
1. Cook the noodles: I use spaghetti because it’s always available in my pantry but you can use rice noodles.
Cook noodles of you choice in boiling water according to package until they are soft. Drain them and rinse with cold water. Add a splash of oil to keep them from sticking.
2. Make the curry: In a pan, fry the onions, garlic and ginger and cook until softens. Add the red curry paste (optional) and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Now add Besan (Gram Flour) and half cup water. Cook for another 2 minutes. Now add chicken and let it cook until chicken changes color.
3. Next add a can of coconut milk. Refill can with water and add to curry. Bring it to boil and simmer. Cook on low until chicken is ready and you can see oil releasing on the sides.
4. Assemble the dish: In a bowl, combine the cooked noodles, and curry. Top with chopped cilantro, chaat masala, lime juice and crushed BBQ chips. Serve immediately.
Khao Suey Toppings
There are a few key toppings that really make Khao suey special. Firstly, there’s the chili oil. This is essential for giving the dish its characteristic spice. Then there’s the fresh lime juice, which helps to balance out the flavors. Finally, there’s the garnish of crushed BBQ chips chaat masala (my mom’s invention) which adds a lovely crunch and freshness.
Don’t worry if you can’t find all of these ingredients; just use what you have on hand. If you don’t have chili oil, use another kind of oil and add some chili flakes. If you don’t have fresh lime juice, use vinegar or lemon juice instead. And if you don’t have BBQ chips and chaat masala use fried tortilla strips or anything crunchy. Instead of chaat masala you can use Sumac.
Khao Suey is a delicious Burmese noodle dish that comes together in minutes and is delicious anytime of the day and for any event. It’s easy to make and requires minimal ingredients, making it an ideal choice for busy families or individuals who want something healthy yet tasty on their table. I have served this dish at large gatherings, on date night with the girls or just for my kids and husband. With this simple recipe, you’ll have a comforting meal ready in no time – one that will definitely bring smiles to everyone’s faces!
With its creamy coconut sauce, crunchy toppings and fragrant spices, it’s sure to become a favorite of your family.
Let me know what you think in the comments below and make sure to give me your feedback and share your pictures on my instagram!
Khao Suey
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Neutral oil
- 1 lb Chicken Breast (about 2 chicken breasts)
- 1 Onion (medium sized-chopped)
- 1½ tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tbsp Red Curry Paste (optional)
- 2 tbsp Gram Flour (Besan)
- 1 can Rotel tomatoes can with green chillies (10 oz can)
- 1 tsp Red chili powder
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
- ¼ to ½ tsp Salt (per taste)
- 1 can Coconut milk
- 500 grams Spaghetti
Toppings
- Cilantro (chopped)
- Chaat Masala (Shaan)
- BBQ chips (crushed)
- Lime juice or wedges
- Chili Oil (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a wok or medium sized sauce pan with 1/4 cup of neutral oil.
- Add chopped onion and saute until it becomes translucent.
- Next add ginger garlic paste, red curry paste and gram flour. Add 1/2 cup of water so nothing sticks to the bottom of pan.
- Saute for 2-3 minutes and add chicken. Toss chicken until chicken changes color.
- Next add all the spices and saute again for 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat. Feel free to add a little water.
- Add one can of rotel tomatoes and cook until tomatoes soften.
- Pour in the coconut milk. Refill empty can with water and add to chicken. Mix until combined and bring to boil.
- Cover and simmer until chicken is fully cooked for 10-15 minutes.
- While the curry is cooking. Bring a pot of water to boil and add spaghetti. Cook according to package. Drain and set aside. (Add a splash of oil to keep spaghetti from sticking.)
- Once chicken is fully cooked and the oil separates, turn off the heat and set curry aside. Curry should have a thick creamy sauce. It should not be dry. Add water if needed.
Assembling the Khao Suey:
- Twirl a generous amount of spaghetti in a bowl using a fork or kitchen tongs.
- Ladle the chicken curry on top of spaghetti.
- Squeeze lime juice, sprinkle chaat masala according to taste and top with chopped cilantro, chili oil and crushed BBQ chips.
- Enjoy!