Easy-to-eat comfort food for busy working-day mornings

Khao mun gai is a traditional Thai dish made with chicken and rice. The chicken is typically cooked with ginger and garlic, then served over oily rice that has been cooked with chicken broth and sometimes pandan leaves for fragrance.

The dish is often served with a side of cucumber slices and a spicy chili-based dipping sauce called “nam jim kai”.

Name and etymology

Common names in Thailand: Khao Mun Gai, Khao Moo Kai or Khao Mun Kai
Thai spelling: ข้าวมันไก่
Western names: Thai Chicken with Oily Rice or Hainanese Chicken Rice

The Thai name “Khao mun gai” means “Rice Oily Chicken”; “Khao”=rice, “Mun”=oily, “Gai”=chicken.

Ingredients

The main ingredients for Khao mun gai include:

• Chicken: Typically made with poached or boiled chicken, it can be replaced with other protein of your choice like tofu.
• Rice: steamed jasmine rice is used, though basmati or long-grain rice can also be used.
• Ginger: adds a warming and aromatic flavor.
• Garlic: adds depth of flavor and aroma to the dish
• Chicken broth: used to cook the rice, adds a rich and savory flavor
• Pandan leaves: added to the rice cooking broth, imparts a subtle fragrant aroma to the rice.
• Cucumber: to be served as a side dish, adds a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the chicken and rice
• Nam jim kai: a spicy chili-based dipping sauce, adding a spicy and tangy contrast to the dish
• Salt, pepper and sometimes sugar, to taste

Taste

Khao Mun Gai is a savory dish with a balance of flavors. The tender and flavorful chicken is complemented by the fragrant oily rice. The ginger and garlic used to season the chicken provide a subtle warmth and spiciness, while the chicken broth used to cook the rice adds a rich, savory flavor. The cucumber slices and chili-based dipping sauce offer a refreshing and spicy contrast to the rich flavors of the chicken and rice. Overall, the dish is considered to be a comfort food, and a simple and easy to eat dish.

Where to buy and how to eat Khao Mun Gai

Khao mun gai is a popular Thai dish that can be found at many Thai restaurants and street food vendors. It is widely available in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries where Thai cuisine is popular.

If you’re looking to find Khao mun gai outside Southeast Asia, you can try looking for Thai restaurants in your area that serve traditional Thai dishes. Many large cities have Thai restaurants that serve a variety of dishes including Khao mun gai.

Khao mun gai is typically served as a main dish and eaten with a fork and spoon. The steamed jasmine rice is scooped onto the plate, and then the cooked chicken is placed on top of the rice. The cucumber slices are usually served on the side, along with the nam jim kai dipping sauce.

To eat the dish, you can start by taking a small portion of rice and chicken on your fork, and then dip it into the nam jim kai sauce. The sauce provides a spicy, tangy contrast to the savory flavors of the chicken and rice. You can also alternate between bites of rice and chicken, and nibbles of cucumber for a refreshing contrast. The dish is a complete meal on its own, and does not require any additional side dish.

It is commonly eaten for lunch or dinner, and is also a popular take-out food.

Is Khao Mun Gai healthy?

Khao mun gai can be a healthy dish, as it is made primarily with lean chicken, steamed rice, and vegetables. These are all nutritious foods that can be part of a balanced diet. The chicken provides a good source of protein, which is important for building and repairing muscle tissue, and the rice is a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy to the body. The vegetables such as cucumber that is served with the dish, also provides a source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

However, it is worth noting that like any dish, the healthiness of Khao mun gai can vary depending on how it is prepared. For example, some recipes may use more oil or butter in the cooking process, which increases the calorie and fat content of the dish. Additionally, the use of chicken broth to cook the rice and the sauce (nam jim kai) can also increase sodium content in the dish.

It’s also good to be mindful of portion size when eating Khao mun gai, as eating too much of any one food can lead to weight gain.

As a general rule, a healthy diet should include a balance of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables. Khao mun gai can be a healthy option when consumed in a moderate portion and made with minimal added oil and sodium.

How to make Khao Mun Gai (Recipe)

Here’s a basic recipe for how to make Khao Mun Gai:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 cups jasmine rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tsp grated ginger
• 2 pandan leaves (optional)
• Salt, pepper and sugar to taste
• Cucumber slices and nam jim kai sauce, for serving

Instructions:

1. Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. Set aside.
2. In a large pot or a rice cooker, bring the chicken broth, water and pandan leaves to a boil. Add the rice and stir gently. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot or rice cooker with a lid.
3. While rice is cooking, In a separate pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger, and stir fry for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
4. Add chicken and season with salt, pepper and sugar to taste, stir fry for about 5-7 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
5. After the rice is done, fluff it with a fork, and serve it on a plate or in a bowl.
6. Place the cooked chicken on top of the rice and serve with cucumber slices and nam jim kai sauce on the side.

If you can’t find pandan leaves, you can make it without them and if you’re looking for a low-fat version you can poach or steam the chicken before adding it to the dish.

Note that this is a classic recipe for Khao Mun Gai but variations do exist across different regions in terms of ingredients and cooking methods.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, Khao Mun Gai is a traditional Thai street food and an absolute classic. It’s made of soft and tender chicken, with the most flavourful rice you’ve ever tasted. it’s no surprising that’s it’s considered to be a perfect comfort food, and also a simple and easy to eat dish ideal for breakfast and lunch.