Khow Suey, also spelled Khao Suey is originally the Burmese main course. It mainly consists of egg noodles and coconut-based curry.
Regardless of region, Khow Suey has moderately spiced coconut curry. Red chili flakes or hot sauce is served on the side for extra heat. This version of curry has a light coconut and chicken flavor. If you like curries, you’d love this Burmese version of Khow Suey. The dish requires some time to cook but it’s worth the pain as it’s so delicious and yummy.
Why does this recipe work?
This Khow Suey recipe is quick and easy. The authentic Burmese Khow Suey recipe calls for a meat curry and a separate coconut curry. Instead, I have made one simple but equally delicious curry that is both quick and practical. Yes, I combined the goodness of both curry in one pot – super quick and yummy!
How to make it?
The recipe shares steps for frying onions and garlic for accompaniments. If using pre-friend onions and garlic just skip those steps.
Boil noodles as per instructions on the packet and set aside.
Fry sliced garlic until golden and set aside. (Skip this step if using store brought fried garlic)
In the same oil fry onions slices until golden.
Remove half onions for garnish and we will use half-fried onions in the coconut curry. Also, remove extra oil from the pot leaving only 2-3 tablespoons of oil.
To make Khow Suey curry put the chicken and all the spices and half of the fried onions in the pot. (Save the other half of the fried onions for garnish.)
Cover the lid and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes until the chicken is tender.
Blend tomatoes in a blender until it forms a smooth tomato puree. Now add tomato puree and cook further for 5 minutes.
When you see a thin layer of oil separating on top and sides of the pan tomatoes are cooked. Reduce heat and let the curry simmer for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, mix coconut milk powder, gram flour lemon juice , and water in a bowl. This is Burmese Khow Suey curry base. ( You can also use coconut milk instead of coconut milk powder, then skip the water in the curry or use less water. )
Add the prepared gram flour mixture to the pot. Cook for a few minutes until it thickens.
Add 2 or more cups of water or as per the desired consistency. Finally, I also add half chicken cube/bullion for flavor kick but it is optional. Let the curry simmer for 15 minutes before serving. To serve Khao Soi, first, fill a bowl with warm noodles and pour the curry over it. Be generous! Then top with the accompaniment of your choice and dig in. Enjoy!
What to serve along?
You can serve khao soi with a number of condiments and the condiments also vary from region to region. Fried garlic, fried onion, fried peanuts, lemon wedges, and cilantro are the most popular accompaniments. Apart from it, chips, fried and crispy crackers, boiled egg slices, sliced onions, and green onion can also be served.
Tips for variation:
While I do appreciate authentic dishes, I strongly believe taste is a personal choice so here are a few variations to this curry.
- Protein Option: This dish tastes amazing with boneless beef or mutton instead of chicken. You can also add tofu and other veggies for vegetarian khao soi curry.
- Noodles option: Egg noodles are typically served with khao soi but ramen instant noodles also taste great.
- Unhealthy: a friend of mine adds cream, butter, and milk to this curry and skips the gram flour. This curry is fluffier without flour but rich and buttery.
- If you mix little vinegar with sliced onion for accompaniment. The sour kick tastes great.
Hungry for noodles? Check these!
- Grapefruit Marmalade
- Pistachio Ice Cream
- Lachko (Whole Wheat Halwa)
- Apricot Jam
Ingredients
- ▢ Oil , to fry (about 1 cup)
- ▢ 3 onions , thinly sliced
- ▢ 1 whole garlic , chopped
For curry
- ▢ 500 grams boneless chicken , cut in small cubes
Spices
- ▢ 4 whole red button chillies
- ▢ ½ tablespoon ginger paste
- ▢ ½ tablespoon garlic paste
- ▢ 2 teaspoon red chilli flakes
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin seeds , or powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ▢ ¾ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
- ▢ salt , or to taste
Other ingredients
- ▢ 3 medium tomatoes , pureed
- ▢ 75 gram coconut milk powder , (or 3 cups light coconut milk)
- ▢ 6 tablespoon gram flour
- ▢ 4 tablespoon lemon juice
- ▢ 1 chicken cube/bullion
- ▢ 1 ½ packet egg noodles , (375 gram, boiled)
Optional Accompaniments
- ▢ Hot sauce
- ▢ Potato sticks
- ▢ Lemon wedges
- ▢ Sliced green onions
- ▢ Boiled eggs
- ▢ Roasted Peanuts
- ▢ sliced onions
Instructions
Prepare Garnish (Fried Galic and onions) Skip is using pre-fried onion and garlic
- In a large pot, fry garlic until golden. Remove from oil and set aside.
- In same oil, fry onion slices until golden. Remove from oil and set aside.
Make Curry
- Remove all oil from the pot leaving only 2 tablespoons. Now, add half of the fried onion (about ¼ cup) chicken, and all ingredients in the spices list in the pot. Mix well, cover, and cook for 10 minutes until chicken is tender.
- Add tomato purée and mix well. Let the curry simmer on low heat for 5-10 minutes until little oil separates on the sides of the pot.
- Now, mix coconut milk powder, gram flour, lemon juice, and 2 cups water in a bowl. Add the mixture to simmering chicken curry.
- Also add a chicken cube and 3 cups water, or as needed for desired consistency. Let the curry simmer until oil separates (about 15 minutes).
- To serve take warm noodles in bowl top with curry and accompaniments of your choice. Enjoy.
Nutrition Information
Khow Suey
Ingredients
- Oil to fry (about 1 cup)
- 3 onions thinly sliced
- 1 whole garlic chopped
For curry
- 500 grams boneless chicken cut in small cubes
Spices
- 4 whole red button chillies
- ½ tablespoon ginger paste
- ½ tablespoon garlic paste
- 2 teaspoon red chilli flakes
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds or powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ¾ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
- salt or to taste
Other ingredients
- 3 medium tomatoes pureed
- 75 gram coconut milk powder (or 3 cups light coconut milk)
- 6 tablespoon gram flour
- 4 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 chicken cube/bullion
- 1 ½ packet egg noodles (375 gram, boiled)
Optional Accompaniments
- Hot sauce
- Potato sticks
- Lemon wedges
- Sliced green onions
- Boiled eggs
- Roasted Peanuts
- sliced onions
Instructions
Prepare Garnish (Fried Galic and onions) Skip is using pre-fried onion and garlic
- In a large pot, fry garlic until golden. Remove from oil and set aside.
- In same oil, fry onion slices until golden. Remove from oil and set aside.
Make Curry
- Remove all oil from the pot leaving only 2 tablespoons. Now, add half of the fried onion (about ¼ cup) chicken, and all ingredients in the spices list in the pot. Mix well, cover, and cook for 10 minutes until chicken is tender.
- Add tomato purée and mix well. Let the curry simmer on low heat for 5-10 minutes until little oil separates on the sides of the pot.
- Now, mix coconut milk powder, gram flour, lemon juice, and 2 cups water in a bowl. Add the mixture to simmering chicken curry.
- Also add a chicken cube and 3 cups water, or as needed for desired consistency. Let the curry simmer until oil separates (about 15 minutes).
- To serve take warm noodles in bowl top with curry and accompaniments of your choice. Enjoy.
