Samlar Machu Kreung – Cambodian Sour Stew

Name: Samlar Machu Kreung – Cambodian Sour Stew
Prep time: 26 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 56 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Cambodia
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken thighs; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 4 cups water; 2 tbsp tamarind paste; 1 tbsp fish sauce; 1 tsp sugar; 1 cup pineapple chunk; 1 cup cherry tomatoes; 1 cup green beans; 1 lemongrass; 2 kaffir lime leaves; 1 chile

A Cambodia dinner made with chicken. Ready in about 56 minutes. Difficulty: medium.

26 minPrep (about)
30 minCook (about)
56 minTotal time
4Servings
MediumDifficulty

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Ingredients

How many people?

− 13 people +

Changed from 4 to 13 people · Back to 4

Main ingredient

3 ¼ lb chicken thighs

Fresh & other

13 cups water
⅓ cup + 1 tbsp tamarind paste
1 tbsp sugar
3 ¼ cups pineapple chunk
3 ¼ cups cherry tomatoes
3 ¼ cups green beans
3 lemongrasses
7 kaffir lime leaves
3 chiles Shopping tip: Fresno or jalapeño for mild (seeds out); Thai bird's eye or serrano for hot.

Sauces & oils

3 ½ tbsp vegetable oil
3 ½ tbsp fish sauce

How to make it

Steps in our own plain words.

Heat 3 ½ tbsp vegetable oil in a big pot over medium-high heat till it shimmers, about 1 minute, 2.
Add 1 lb boneless, chicken thighs to the pot.
Cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes, stirring every so often to prevent sticking, 3.
Pour 13 cups water into the pot.
Bring to a boil.
Turn the heat down to a simmer, 4.
Stir in 1 tbsp sugar, 3 ½ tbsp fish sauce and ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp tamarind paste until fully dissolved, about 1 minute, 5.
Add 3 stalk lemongrasses plus 7 kaffir limes leaves to the pot.
Cover.
Simmer for 10 min to infuse the broth with flavor, 6.
Tip: Bruising your lemongrass before adding helps its essential oils for more aromatic stew, 7.
Add 3 ¼ cups green beans, 3 ¼ cups cherry tomatoes and 3 ¼ cups pineapple chunks to the pot.
Stir to mix, 8.
Simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, till your green beans are tender still crisp plus the tomatoes start to soften, 9.
Tip: Avoid overcooking your vegetables to maintain their vibrant color plus texture in the final dish, 10.
Stir in 1 Thai chili.
Simmer for an more 2 minutes to mixed in the heat, 11.
Tip: Taste your broth plus adjust using extra tamarind paste or fish sauce if wanted, but do so gradually to avoid overpowering your balance, 12.
Remove your pot from heat plus discard your lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves before serving.
Present your stew hot in bowls, optionally garnished using fresh herbs like cilantro.