Swimming Rama - Thai Recipes with Chicken (2024)

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It is a weeknight, you're busy. Let’s get takeout. Or NOT! Let’s Fake Out the Take Out! We are loving this healthy swimming rama recipe made with rotisserie chicken for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. It takes less than 15 minutes!

Swimming Rama - Thai Recipes with Chicken (1)

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Jump to:
  • What is Swimming Rama?
  • 📖Why This Recipe Works
  • 🧾Ingredient Notes
  • ⏲️How to Make Swimming Rama
  • Step 4- Serve
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tip
  • 🌡️Storing Leftovers
  • More Quick Chicken Dinner Recipes
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • 📖 Printable Recipe Card
  • ⭐Reviews

What is Swimming Rama?

It typically is steamed or poached chicken served with sauteed spinach over white rice with a Thai peanut sauce.

Here in Ohio I often see it called Rama Thai or Praram Lhong Srong. But I have also seen it called Khao Phra Ram Long Song. Thai food is high on my list of favorite cuisines.

There are so many naturally gluten-free dishes that I base many of my recipes on these traditional Thai flavors. From my spicy pumpkin soup to vegetarian green curry, and of course my gluten-free pad Thai with shrimp, I really can't get enough.

📖Why This Recipe Works

How in the world do we make this in less than 15 minutes?I rely on store-bought pre-prepped healthy ingredients including rotisserie chicken, bagged spinach, and pre-cut broccoli florets plus my quick and easy homemade peanut sauce with a couple of pantry staples.

And while you can serve this dish over white rice or even leftover sushi rice, I prefer to serve mine with broccoli. My favorite Thai restaurant does this and I love having the extra veggies.

🧾Ingredient Notes

Chicken- I use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for this recipe. But you can poach your own chicken breast. You can also swap out the protein for pressed tofu or thinly sliced pork (cook first).

Spinach- Use fresh spinach, not frozen.

Broccoli- You can use fresh or frozen broccoli. This ingredient is optional. But if you want more veggies try adding a red bell pepper for extra color.

Peanut Butter- I prefer lightly salted natural peanut butter but you can also use creamy peanut butter.

Coconut Milk- Regular or light coconut milk. Do not use coconut cream.

Soy Sauce- To keep things GF I use tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) but you can use regular if you like. Use coconut aminos to keep it soy free.

Fish Sauce

Lime Juice

Rice Vinegar

Aromatics- Fresh garlic, lots of ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes.

Some recipes use a little red curry paste in their sauce. In an effort to keep things simple I used red chili flakes for heat.

Paleo Variation

To make this recipe paleo simply swap out the peanut butter for almond butter. I don't use any sugar in the recipe.

⏲️How to Make Swimming Rama

florets. While the water is coming to temperature let's get started on the sauce.

Step 1- Peanut Sauce

Place all the sauce ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth.Add the sauce to a small saucepan and heat over low heat until it is warmed through.

Step 2- Prep the Chicken

Remove the skin from the chicken and pull off the meat. Thinly slice the chicken. Arrange on a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.

Swimming Rama - Thai Recipes with Chicken (2)

Step 3- Prep the Veggies

Add the broccoli to the steamer basket. Once the broccoli is cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Add the bag of spinach right on top. Cover for 30-60 seconds, until just wilted. Arrange on your serving platter.

If you aren't making the broccoli, you can just steam the spinach. Or you can saute. Just add a teaspoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the spinach and stir constantly until wilted.

Step 4- Serve

Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and serve the rest on the side. Garnish with fresh Thai chilis, chili garlic sauce, cilantro, or sesame seeds. Serve on its own or with sushi rice, quinoa, or riced cauliflower.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tip

To make this part of your weekly meal prep, blanch the broccoli, and prep the chicken and the sauce. When ready to eat simply reheat the chicken directly in the sauce, sauté the broccoli and add the spinach at the last minute.

Swimming Rama - Thai Recipes with Chicken (3)

🌡️Storing Leftovers

Spinach is best eaten the day it is cooked. The chicken, broccoli, and peanut sauce can be mixed together and stored in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.

More Quick Chicken Dinner Recipes

  • Pollo Asado (Chipotle Copycat)
  • Hawaiian Chicken Pineapple Kabobs
  • Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata
  • Blackened Chicken Sandwich

Frequently Asked Questions

What brand of gluten-free fish sauce do you recommend?

I use Red Boat fish sauce, but feel free to use whatever brand you can find at your local grocery store.

Is swimming rama sauce the same as Thai peanut sauce?

It depends on the recipe but the sauce I use for swimming rama is the same as my gluten-free Thai peanut sauce recipe.

📖 Printable Recipe Card

Swimming Rama

Fake Out the Takeout! This swimming rama recipe only takes 15 minutes. Use a rotisserie chicken to make this fresh and easy dish. So flavorful!

Servings: 6 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

5 from 7 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1 rotisserie chicken
  • 12 oz broccoli florets
  • 5 oz baby spinach
  • optional garnishes cilantro, chili oil, thai chili peppers, sesame seeds

Swimming Rama Sauce

Instructions

  • Remove the skin from the chicken and pull the chicken from the bones and arrange on a large platter. Cover with foil to keep warm.

    1 rotisserie chicken

  • In a large sauce pan bring one inch of water to boil. Add steamer basket and broccoli and cover. Steam for 6 minutes or until broccoli is fork tender. Add spinach on top of the broccoli and cook for 30 to 60 seconds until spinach is just wilted. Arrange broccoli and spinach on the platter. Remove steamer basket and drain water, return pot to stove.

    12 oz broccoli florets, 5 oz baby spinach

  • While the broccoli is cooking prepare the sauce. Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor. Blend 1 minute or until smooth.

    1 cup coconut milk, canned, ½ cup peanut butter, all-natural, 1 inch piece ginger, 2 cloves garlic, 2 Tablespoons tamari gluten free soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons fish sauce, ½ lime, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

  • Add sauce to a dry pan and cook on medium heat until it boils. Taste for heat and add more red pepper, if needed.

    optional garnishes cilantro, chili oil, thai chili peppers, sesame seeds

Rate this Recipe

Video

Notes

  • Sub steamed or poached chicken breast if rotisserie chicken isn't available.
  • For quick prep I used washed and bagged broccoli and spinach.
  • Frozen broccoli can be substituted and is optional.
  • Serve over rice, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Carbs: 12g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 30g | Fiber: 5g

Author: Jen Wooster

Course:: Main Course

Cuisine: Thai

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Swimming Rama - Thai Recipes with Chicken (2024)

FAQs

What is swimming Rama called in Thai? ›

Swimming rama is a traditional Thai dish featuring water spinach leaves topped with pork or chicken, all generously drenched in a rich, creamy peanut sauce. In Thailand it's called “praram long song”.

What does Rama mean in Thailand? ›

All kings in the current Chakri dynasty of Thailand are often referred to as King Rama in the English speaking world. The name Rama was adopted from the name of the Hindu God Rama, an avatar of Vishnu.

What is the story of Rama in Thailand? ›

Many Thai scholars believe that Ramakien is a tale that only people with special knowledge can decode and understand its true message. It was a story of the spiritual quest of Ram for Nirvana (Sita). It also speaks of the purification of intellectual and physical forms of Tosakanth or Ravana and his brothers.

What is the unhealthiest Thai dish? ›

Worst: Red or Green Curry

Thai curries are usually made with a hefty dose of coconut milk, and that won't do your diet any favors. One cup of the creamy milk packs in 400 calories. It also has 36 grams of saturated fat -- more than three times the recommended daily amount.

What food do Thai people love? ›

Let's see if we can bring you a whole new experience when enjoying Thai food in Thailand!
  • Miang Kham (Betel Leaf Wrap)
  • Khao Soi Noodles (Northen Thai Coconut Curry Noodles)
  • Massaman Curry.
  • Larb.
  • Pla Kapung Neung Manao (Steamed lime fish)
  • Guay Tiew Ruea (Thai Boat Noodles)
  • Moo Ping (Grilled Pork Skewers)
May 9, 2022

What is Thailand's national dish? ›

Pad thai is a national dish of Thailand loved so much worldwide that has made it into the online Oxford Dictionary since 2022, gaining the same international status as the words “sushi” and “pizza.” Under the category Food C2 the website Oxford Learner's Dictionaries defines “pad thai” as “A dish from Thailand made ...

What is Ramayana called in Thailand? ›

'Glory of Rama'; sometimes also spelled Ramakian) is one of Thailand's national epics. It is a Thai version of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. Ramakien is an important part of the Thai literary canon.

What is kah in Thai? ›

ครับ khráp and ค่ะ khâ are particles commonly used among Thai people in order to make the sentences more polite and formal. This includes when you talk to the elderly, to someone you respect, or to someone you don't know very well.

What is Rama? ›

Rama, the Hindu god, is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu. In Hindu mythology, an avatar is an animal or human form into which a god can incarnate in order to counterbalance some opposing evil. Vishnu has ten avatars, depending on local stories in each area where he is worshiped.

What is Khun Kha? ›

3 – Thank You in Thai: Khop Khun kha/khap

It is perhaps the most important Thai word to learn. Thais are polite and khop khun is a response that is always appreciated. Women say 'khop khun kha', men say 'khop khun khap'.

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