From the menu of … Tin Drum AsiaCafe, 2566 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta. 404-205-5650; www.tindrumcafe.com
Q: I would greatly appreciate it if you can please get the recipe for the Tin Drum Chicken from Tin Drum AsiaCafe. All of their dishes are wonderful, but I love the Tin Drum Chicken. Thank you. — Patricia Phillip, Lithonia
A: Steven Chan, founder and CEO of Tin Drum AsiaCafe, gave us the recipe for the dish he says is the restaurant’s most popular dish. He credits that to the balance of sweet and spicy flavors combined with the creamy texture of coconut milk.
“Because the sauce is so good, we only need to pair it with fresh baby spinach and some crunchy peanuts. Together they are the perfect complement to steamy jasmine rice.”
Tin Drum AsiaCafe is opening its lucky 13th location on Briarcliff Road next Tuesday.
Tin Drum AsiaCafe’s Tin Drum Chicken
Hands on: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Serves: 1
1 cup light coconut milk
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons fish sauce
2 teaspoons sambal chili paste
1 teaspoon red curry paste
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Oil for frying
4 ounces chicken breast, cut into 2-inch cubes
1/4 cup fresh baby spinach
1 teaspoon crushed roasted peanuts
Jasmine rice, for serving
In a medium saucepan, combine coconut milk, sugar, fish sauce, chili paste and curry paste. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and keep warm.
In a small bowl, whisk together egg white and cornstarch. Set aside.
In a large skillet, add oil to a depth of 1 inch. Heat to 350 degrees.
When oil is ready, dip chicken cubes in egg white mixture and carefully slip into hot oil. Fry until golden on all sides, about 2 minutes. Discard any remaining egg white mixture.
On serving plate, arrange rice, then top with spinach. Top spinach with hot chicken and pour warm sauce over everything. Garnish with crushed peanuts. Serve immediately.
Per serving: 778 calories (percent of calories from fat, 68), 34 grams protein, 30 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 60 grams fat (13 grams saturated), 68 milligrams cholesterol, 432 milligrams sodium.
