Chicken Vermicelli

Loved by many, this dish is known as Simur Chicken in the Torres Strait Islands and other familiar names like Jensie Chicken, Chicken Vermicelli and even my Samoan Uso’s know it as their Chop Suey!

Ask any of us mob, you can’t go wrong with Chicken vermicelli!

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs and or Wing nibbles (500-600g), dice the thighs

• Garlic (4-5 cloves) finely chopped/grated

• Ginger (equal amount as garlic) finely grated

• Brown onion (medium-sized) diced

• Soy sauce (approx. 1/2 cup, adjust as necessary to your taste)

• Vermicelli noodles (approx. 2-3 rolls or similar amount to the chicken)

• Cooking oil

• Water (click the kettle and have boiled/hot water ready)

  Note: You can pre-soak the vermicelli noodles in a bowl with water or throw them in the pot dry (Step 5) and they will cook soaking up the stock, it doesn’t really matter to be honest.

Method:

1. In a pot on high heat, add some cooking oil and begin to sear the chicken, simply getting a nice bit of colour. Do this in batches as necessary as to not over crowd the pot. Remove when some browning occurs, once done set aside.

2. Reducing the heat to a medium, add the onion and begin cooking. Note: use a dash of water to help cook the onion and prevent burning if needed. Once it softens (this may take 10 minutes) add the garlic & ginger, stir through and allow to become fragrant. Cook for a further 3-4 minuites.

3. Add the chicken back in, stirring through the Soy sauce and top up with the boiled water, be generous - you need enough to cover the chicken + extra for the Vermicelli noodles (they will absorb a bit of water!).

4. Reduce the heat to medium simmer, not a hectic boil, a gentle simmer, at this stage you’re finishing off the chicken and allowing it to become tender. Do this for approximately 20 minutes with a lid on.

5. Now add the vermicelli noodles (pre-soaked or not), ensure they are submerged in enough stock, put a lid back on and simmer for another 5-10 minutes until the noodles are cooked and turn a golden colour.

6. Serve with rice, congratulations you are now mob.

Enjoy!