Lemongrass Chicken Bánh Mì Inspired Salad

Heat a frying pan on medium-high heat (no oil).

Once hot, lay the chicken thighs flat in the pan. Season with salt and pepper and fry until browned on each side and cooked through, 13-15 mins. Turn every 2-3 mins. IMPORTANT: The chicken is cooked when no longer pink in the middle.

Meanwhile, peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Tear the ciabatta into roughly 2cm chunks.

Pop the ciabatta onto a baking tray. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, add the garlic and toss to coat well.

Bake the croutons on the middle shelf until golden, 8-10 mins, then remove from the oven and set aside.

While the chicken and croutons cook, trim and peel the carrot. Use the peeler to peel long ribbons down the length of the carrot, stopping at the core. 

Halve the baby plum tomatoes.

Crush the peanuts in the unopened sachet using a rolling pin.

In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise, water for the mayo (see pantry for amount) and sambal paste. Mix to combine your sambal mayo.

In another medium bowl, mix together the rice vinegar, sugar and olive oil for the dressing (see pantry for both amounts). Season with salt and pepper.

Add the tomatoes to the rice vinegar dressing and mix together.