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    Home » Chicken » Vietnamese Chicken Ragu (Ga Ragu)

    Published: Jul 10, 2019 · Last Modified: Jul 28, 2020 by Jeannette ·

    Vietnamese Chicken Ragu (Ga Ragu)

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    Every time I reminisce about Grandma’s Vietnamese Chicken Ragu with rich tomato sauce, succulent chicken and fragrant vegetables, my mouth INSTANTLY waters. This ragu marries the best of two worlds – the Vietnamese and the French – to bring out a dish that completely warms the soul. It’s pure comfort food!

    Vietnamese Chicken Ragu in a bowl with baguettes and rice near it

    Whenever you look out the window and see a cold, rainy day, Vietnamese ragu is the perfect dish to add some well-deserved heat back into your home. The sight of the rich sauce will instantly lift anyone’s mood (mine especially)! 

    All you need is a bowl of steaming hot rice and you’ll be set for an incredibly homey meal. Grab your wok to recreate this for your next dinner! 

    Vietnamese Chicken Ragu Close Up with sliced baguette and a wooden spoon

    What you'll need to make Vietnamese chicken ragu

    Vietnamese ragu doesn’t discriminate when it comes to which part of the chicken to use. Occasionally Grandma buys the wings or the thighs. In fact, sometimes we even use pork spare ribs if that’s what we have in our fridge! Regardless of the meat you use, it’s guaranteed to be incredible.

    • 1 kg chicken (thigh, drumstick, wing or breast)
    • 4 potatoes
    • 4 carrots
    • 1 onion
    • 5 cloves garlic
    • 2 tbsp cooking oil
    • 1 carton Leggo’s pure tomato paste tub
    • 850 mL water
    • 3 tsp salt
    • 2 tbsp sugar
    • 1 tbsp chicken bouillon powder
    • 2 cans baked beans in tomato sauce (optional)
    Ultimately, how many vegetables you add is up to you, so that’s just a guideline. Some variations I’ve come across include peas as well, but Grandma never did. I’ll stick to what I grew up to love. At the end of the day, make your dish you.

    How to make the chicken ragu

    Halved chicken drumsticks on a wooden chopping board

    Start by cutting up the chicken. We used drumsticks this time, so Grandma halved them to cook faster.

    Peel and chop the vegetables. Keep in mind that they will be simmering for some time. It’s best to keep them bigger rather otherwise they’ll disintegrate in the sauce. 

    Chop the potatoes roughly into 3cm x 3cm (or 1″ x 1″) pieces and the carrots 2cm (about 1/2″) thick. You can also halve the carrots length-wise to cook faster.

    A bowl of finely chopped garlic on the left and a bowl of chopped onion on the right

    To add depth of flavour when cooking, finely chop the garlic and roughly cut up the onion.

    Browned garlic and onion in a wok

    Heat up your wok or pan, then pour in the oil. Throw the garlic and onion in and let the aromas take you to paradise. 

    Chicken partially browned in a wok with onion and garlic

    After a minute, add the chicken (or whichever meat you had) and give it a quick stir. 

    Tomato puree covered over chicken drumsticks in a wok

    This is the part where it gets exciting! All the beautiful colour and rich flavour you find in this dish comes from the pure tomato paste. 

    Pour the tomato paste in and stir it into the chicken. The idea is to have the puree lightly cover all the chicken pieces, which means that you might need to add more or use less.

    Cut potatoes and carrots in a wok with chicken

    Now that the chicken is being infused with the tanginess of tomato concentrate, you can throw in the potatoes and carrots. 

    I guarantee you they will retain their structure throughout the whole cooking process, but they will absorb all of the sauce’s essence. It’s a two-way exchange because while they’re busy taking on new flavours, they’re also adding an natural sweetness to the ragu as well! Wonderful, right?

    Vietnamese Chicken Ragu bubbling in wok

    This is the part where we adjust the consistency of the tomato puree so that there is extra sauce to pour onto our bed of rice! Simply fill the tomato paste tub with water, pour that into the pot and add another 700 mL. 

    To balance our the tanginess, add the salt, sugar and chicken powder. Give it a stir and let the chicken cook on a high heat until it bubbles, then simmer it on a medium heat for 20 minutes before serving.

    Baked beans in simmering Vietnamese Chicken Ragu

    Keen for baked beans?

    This next part is completely optional (but will take your Vietnamese ragu to a whole new level): add the baked beans in tomato sauce and continue to simmer. It will enrich the tomato flavour even further!

    After 10 minutes, voilà! You’re done!

    You can eat this incredible chicken ragu with rice or with crusty Vietnamese baguettes (also an inspiration from the French) and use it to dip into the thick sauce.

    Make it this week to see what the rave is all about! You won’t be disappointed with this favourite! 

    Vietnamese Chicken Ragu (Ga Ragu) close up in a bowl with a sliced baguette dipped in
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    Vietnamese Chicken Ragu in a bowl with baguettes and rice near it

    Vietnamese Chicken Ragu (Ga Ragu)

    Bring your family together with this all time favourite that marries Vietnamese and French cuisines! Our Vietnamese Chicken Ragu recipe is one that you will keep coming back to!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Jeannette

    Ingredients

    • 4 potatoes
    • 4 carrots
    • 1 kg chicken wings or thighs
    • 5 cloves garlic
    • 1 onion
    • 2 tbsp cooking oil
    • 1 carton Leggo’s pure tomato paste tub or any tomato paste variation
    • 850 mL water
    • 3 tsp salt
    • 2 tbsp sugar
    • 1 tbsp  chicken bouillon powder
    • 2 cans baked beans in tomato sauce Optional

    Instructions

    • Cut the chicken into chunks.
    • Peel and wash the potatoes and carrots. 
    • Chop the potatoes into 3cm x 3cm (or 1″ x 1″) pieces and the carrots 2cm (about 1/2″) thick.
    • Finely chop the garlic and roughly cut up the onion.
    • Heat up your wok or pan, pour in the oil. Throw the garlic and onion in. 
    • After a minute, add the chicken and give it a quick stir. 
    • Pour the tomato paste in and stir it into the chicken. The idea is to have the puree lightly cover all the chicken pieces, so you might need to add more or use less.
    • Throw in the potatoes and carrots. 
    • Fill the tomato paste carton with water, pour that into the pot and add another 700 millilitres. 
    • Add the salt, and chicken powder. 
    • Let the chicken cook on a high heat until it bubbles, then simmer it on a medium heat for 20 minutes before serving.
    • Optional: Add a can of baked beans in tomato sauce and continue to cook for an additional 10 minutes.
    Tried this recipe? Tag me TODAY!If you recreated this authentic recipe, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @wokandkin.

    SHARE YOUR CREATION!

    If you recreated this authentic recipe, I’d love to see it! Tag @wokandkin on Instagram with the hashtag #wokandkin! See you there!

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    Jeannette on Wok & Kin

    Hello, I’m Jeannette!

    I’ll be sharing recipes that will give you front row access to authentic Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines. Find out about how I discovered my love for cooking and who inspired it all here!

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. SHANIKA says

      August 27, 2019 at 10:18 pm

      5 stars
      This Chicken dish looks so flavorful and delicious! I’m loving all of the veggies!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        August 28, 2019 at 5:23 am

        Thanks Shanika! Having veggies and chicken is definitely a win-win!

        Reply
    2. Beth Pierce says

      August 27, 2019 at 11:36 pm

      5 stars
      What an amazing recipe! I am adding this to my dinner line up for the week! Delicious!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        August 28, 2019 at 5:22 am

        Thanks Beth! I hope you love it as much as my family does!

        Reply
    3. Cookilicious says

      August 28, 2019 at 12:20 am

      This looks like a perfect meal for weeknights! Nice photography.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        August 28, 2019 at 5:22 am

        It’s definitely a weeknight kinda dish! Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Jamie says

      August 28, 2019 at 1:26 am

      5 stars
      This was so hearty and filling with tons of chicken flavor! My family loved this and we’ll be making this again!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        August 28, 2019 at 5:21 am

        I’m glad you and your family loved it Jamie! Cheers!

        Reply
    5. Krissy Allori says

      August 28, 2019 at 1:31 am

      5 stars
      I’ve never had this but it looks so hearty and delicious! I can’t wait to try it.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        August 28, 2019 at 5:20 am

        It certainly is! It’s comfort food for sure!

        Reply
    6. Dawn says

      September 10, 2020 at 3:15 am

      Sorry to ask a dumb question but which potatoes do you use?

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        September 10, 2020 at 7:57 pm

        That’s a very valid question! We often use red potatoes because that’s what we have at home and it’s easily available for us at the shops.

        Reply

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