Manok Kacangma is a dish unique to the Sarawak identity believed to be from the Chinese Hakka origin best known for its health benefits. This cuisine is typically served to women during their confinement periods due to its healing properties.
This doesn’t mean you need to have had recently given birth to enjoy the dish, rather people at all stages of life are encouraged to consume manok kacagma as it is revered for its high nutritional value.
If you didn’t know, in some Sarawak dialects, manok means chicken while kacangma or motherwort is a local remedial herb. Now, with the Manok Kacangma recipe below, you can cook this dish at the comfort of your own home!
Ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized chicken, cut into smaller sizes.
- 1/2 cup of dry motherwort herb
- 2 cups of Chinese cooking wine
- 200 grams of fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons of sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Directions:
- First, pound or blend the ginger and squeeze out its juice by using a strainer. Marinate the chicken in the ginger juice for at least two hours and keep ponded/blended ginger for later.
- Heat the motherwort in a pan on a low flame for 15 – 20 minutes until the leaves are very dry, crisp and aromatic. Once ready, set aside. Be careful not to burn the motherwort as it may result in a bitter dish.
- Next, add in the vegetable oil and stir fry the pounded/blended ginger until aromatic. Set aside.
- Add in sesame oil to the pan cook chicken under medium heat. Cover the pan with a lid and let simmer until chicken is cooked through and soft, stirring occasionally.
- Once liquids in the pan start to reduce, add in cooked ginger and motherwort followed by Chinese cooking wine. Simmer for 10-15 minutes under medium heat.
- Add salt to taste and serve while hot with a bowl of rice.
Manok Kacangma Recipe
If you can’t get your hands on motherwort, a herb quite hard to find unless you’re in Sarawak, you could omit this ingredient and cook up a hearty and healthy batch of ginger chicken.
Nonetheless, this dish is a great pick-me-up meal if you’re feeling a little under the weather or a great meal to be eaten on one of those cold and rainy nights.
Another easy way to get your hands on this dish is to get on the foodpanda app and get this authentic Sarawakian meal delivered to you.