Manok Pansoh (Sarawak Chicken with Lemongrass and Ginger)
In short: Chicken cooked in its own juices with lemongrass, ginger, garlic and tapioca leaves, a clean, fragrant Iban dish that needs only salt and patience. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 370 kcal
Manok pansoh is an Iban dish from Sarawak in which chicken is packed into a bamboo tube with lemongrass, ginger and tapioca leaves and cooked over a fire. The tube holds in the steam, so the chicken cooks in its own juices into a clear, aromatic broth. At home, a heavy pot with a tight lid does the same work. The flavor is clean and herbal with no oil and no chili needed, which is what makes it distinctive.
Instructions
- Toss the chicken with the salt, pepper, half the lemongrass, the ginger, garlic and shallots. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Put the chicken and all the aromatics in a heavy pot with the water and the chilies, if using. Bring to a boil, then cover tightly and lower the heat to the lowest setting.
- Cook for 30 minutes, stirring once after 15 minutes and keeping the lid on otherwise, until the chicken is tender and the juices run clear (74°C/165°F). The pot will fill with broth.
- Add the tapioca leaves and the remaining lemongrass, cover and cook for 5 minutes, until the leaves wilt.
- Taste the broth and add a pinch of salt if needed. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Tips
- Traditionally the chicken is cooked in a bamboo tube over an open fire. For a smoky note, char the lemongrass and ginger over a flame or in a dry pan before adding them.
- Frozen tapioca leaves are sold at Asian grocers. Spinach, bok choy or Swiss chard can replace them, and should be added only for the last 2 to 3 minutes.
Questions and answers
What does pansoh mean?
Pansoh refers to the Iban way of cooking food inside a length of bamboo over a fire. The sealed tube steams the ingredients in their own juices.
Can I cook manok pansoh in the oven?
Yes. Put everything in a covered casserole and bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 45 minutes, until the chicken is tender, then add the leaves at the end.
What do you serve with manok pansoh?
Plain steamed rice is the usual partner, with a green vegetable and a small dish of sambal for people who want heat. The broth is spooned over the rice.
How long does it take to make Manok Pansoh (Sarawak Chicken with Lemongrass and Ginger)?
About 55 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Manok Pansoh (Sarawak Chicken with Lemongrass and Ginger)?
About 370 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 370 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 1200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
