Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Add the rinsed rice and the appropriate amount of water to your rice cooker. Each packet contains 2 cups of rice.

Don’t have a rice cooker? Rinse and drain rice. In a pot, bring water to a boil (3 cups for 2 servings / 6 cups for 4 servings / 9 cups for 6 servings). Add rice, stir once, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer until water is absorbed and rice is tender (12–15 min / 15–18 min / 18–20 min). Remove from heat and let it sit while covered (10 min / 10–15 min / 15 min).

Wash and pat dry chicken pieces with paper towels. Place them in a large bowl and coat evenly with Ahh Maa Lagu Seasoning and tomato paste. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes.

Peel and rinse the onions and potatoes. Cut the potatoes into quarters and slice the onions into eighths. Set aside for cooking.

Place the potato quarters in a bowl and toss with vegetable oil (3 Tbs for 2 servings / 6 Tbs for 4 servings / 9 Tbs for 6 servings). Cook in an air fryer at 200°C for 10 minutes, or until golden and partially cooked. Alternatively, deep fry at 170°C for 8 minutes or shallow fry on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes.

Tip: This step helps prevent the potatoes from falling apart during simmering.

In a large pot, heat a small amount of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Sear the marinated chicken for 10 minutes, turning occasionally. A light sear is enough, no need to cook through at this stage.

Add chicken stock and water (1 Liter for 2 servings / 2 Liters for 4 servings / 3 Liters for 6 servings) to the pot. Stir gently to deglaze the bottom. Add the onion segments and partially cooked potatoes.

Bring everything to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and the potatoes are soft.

Add peas and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. The peas will add a touch of sweetness and colour to the dish.

Ladle the stew into bowls and serve hot with steamed rice. Enjoy the rich, comforting flavours of this Vietnamese-inspired classic!