Coconut Chicken Curry Recipe (2024)

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Angela

A list of ingredients is good, but I also wish recipes were written like this:Trim 2 ½ pounds chicken thighs of excess fat and cut into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces; transfer to a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon turmeric and 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and use your hands to mix well. ...In a large pot, heat ⅓ cup canola oil over medium-high. Stir in 2 yellow onions, finely diced ... add 4 garlic cloves, minced, and continue to cook ... add 1 (13-ounce) can unsweetened coconut

Elle

I also wish that recipe writers were more specific about onions. Yellow onions range widely in size, so cups or ounces or grams would be much appreciated in the interest of following the recipe precisely! Geez!

WK

A Cantonese take on Thai. Very good, very bland. So I doubled & pounded the garlic, grated a 1 1/2" piece of ginger, used 3 tbsp fish sauce, used 2 tbsp of Thai red curry paste (not the cayenne) & 1 full tsp turmeric, added the zest of 1 lime, & sauteed in coconut oil. Also used good chicken stock instead of water, reducing the amount to 1 cup. Served with chopped cilantro & lime wedges. Delicious, though NOT as written.

KS

A friend shared this dish while visiting last year, and it's incredible! So flavorful and tender. Try to stay patient at the end - those recommended 20 minutes for the flavors to meld are key, as are the lime and cilantro for serving. Homemade naan does not go amiss, either. This is a winter household staple for us...best host thank-you gift ever!

Mary

I chose this recipe based on Genevieve Ko's "stick to the recipe" recommendation, and because I had eaten at Burma Superstar several years ago and loved it. In searching for parathas to make along side it, I found the ORIGINAL Superstar recipe which included a tablespoon of grated ginger, which I added along with the garlic. The outcome was delicious, but just curious about her "follow the recipe" advice which was NOT done in this case.

Paula

This is so good! we loved it! The natural sweetness of the coconut milk balances the cayenne and curry perfectly. Note: I added only 1/2 cup of water in step 3, not 1 1/2, as there was already a great deal of liquid. Even with this subtraction and after simmering for 3/4 hour there was still a LOT of coconut broth - not a problem as it's delicious and great over the leftover rice, but I'm glad I didn't add the full amount of water listed.

TKeefe

I read the article and followed the recipe to the letter. Hard to do! Never realized how much I “cowboy it” while I cook. The results: a complex curry with a beautifully deep sauce. 2 ingredients I had to substitute (and it still came out delicious): I used lite coconut milk (the only option available at my rural grocery store) & Penzy’s curry spice (have no idea if it was madras curry). My only qualm is the sauce is watery & oily, but if you can get past this, you’ll be amply rewarded.

emcat

I echo Elle's wish for weight measurements and type of onion specificity. Additionally, if we want to follow this recipe to the letter, it would be helpful to specify the type of paprika. I currently have 5 different paprikas in my cabinet ranging from sharp, to half sharp, to sweet, to smoky, and beyond.

Sally

I think steamed broccoli would compliment these flavors, or really any bright green veg: peas, green beans, asparagus. A substantial green salad (cabbage, romaine, chopped carrots, green onions, celery, kohlrabi, etc.) is always a good flavor and texture contrast for a braised meat dish.

Beth

We make this since we tried it almost every week - it's that much of a favorite. We use the Madras Curry, the full fat coconut milk and the full amount of cayenne although the first time I made it my husband's stomach was wobbly so I left it out and we STILL Loved it and love it even more now. One of our favorite recipes on the site, and how big the onions are couldn't be less meaningful - I also use as much chicken as I have - sometimes more sometimes less - it doesn't really matter.

JH

Too much liquid and not enough flavor.I don’t know why it calls for 1 1/2 cups of water when the sauce comes out way too diluted. The curry flavor is way to subtle . Would not make again

onnieshy

I wonder if it was watery/oily because you had to use lite coconut milk? It’s very different from full fat. Haven’t done the recipe yet so I’m just guessing.

Lorna

I have made a similar recipe of theirs and wilted several handfuls of spinach into the stir fry near the end. it does add a little additional moisture, but I find it tastes great!

Sona

I almost didn’t make this based on other reviews, but it was unbelievably good. Reminded me of Japanese curry from the curry houses in LA. Couple adjustments:- used light coconut milk that I had in a fridge (12 Oz) and then an additional 4 Oz of regular fat coconut milk. Did not add any additional water- added about 1-2 tsp of grated ginger; and instead of turmeric, I used a lemongrass-turmeric paste I had on hand.::Chef’s kiss::

Sam

Way too much water!! Cut down on the added water and this would be delicious!!

Brockett

This was delicious! The turmeric+paprika stained the bowl that I used to marinate the chicken. A suggestion is to use a take out container for that step.If it helps others, I cut these corners and still found great results:• bought onion that was pre-chopped.• used chicken tenderloins instead of thighs / easier to cut to a consistent size• generally used medium-high heat (rather than medium-low) for 25–30 minutes of simmering• added spinach at the end to make it healthier / more colorful

SteveAustin

Cut water in 1/2

Mykitchencooks

Mix with your hands??? Only if you want orange tinted hands for, like...a WEEK.

nanbrand

Followed the instructions, except I used chicken breast instead of thighs, and the results were great. My family loved this dish!

Berndo

Loved it! Used Veg stock that needed to be used instead of water, and only had Jamaican curry, so subbed that. Didn't use quite as much oil and it was not missed. Also, only had elephant garlic, so that was probably a good bit more than the 4 cloves called for here. Oh, and accidentally used smoked paprika, which seemed like a welcome addition. Will make again, God willing.

Cheryl

Very good. Took others advise to reduce the water and added peas, red pepper slices and potatoes for additional vegetables.

trader joe copy cat

Good. Coconut milk curdled. Try different brand. Use less liquid

LR

Add ginger

VeggieMama

My biggest qualm with nyt is that there often isn’t a vegetable beyond an onion even in recipes that it’s easy to add on to. In this recipe I add a sweet potato and red bell pepper and it’s great. I put the potato in when I add the water and the pepper half way through the cook time.

Michael

Made this per recipe. Will bump up the spices. A good reminder to read comments first, which I usually do. Like others, I found the sauce needed thickening. A little arrowroot in a cold water slurry, stirred in after the curry and cayenne did the trick.

BAW

Oh and in addition to the below, added sugar to give the sauce more sweetness. We served it with rainbow cauliflower.

BAW

We used meatless "chicken" strips. We cut down some of the water added since it did not need to cook as long using the meat substitute. We also cooked the rice and mixed it all together towards the end. It came out great!

Jack in Joisey

Made it pretty much as written. I had a bit more chicken, so I used 2 cans coconut milk and a bit less water. I added a bit of spinach to it at the end, and used mild curry powder. Big hit with the family, will make again!

Jack in Joisey

I also did add a bit of ginger, but not sure that made any difference. Had it the next night again, liked it better than the 1st night (and I liked it a lot the 1st night)

Lorin Lau

I also only had light coconut milk, so did not add any water/broth, other than mixing in 1 teaspoon cornstarch at end to thicken curry a bit. I used 2 teaspoons madras Thai curry powder and 1 teaspoon regular curry to balance spiciness (I can’t eat that spicy). Added 2 Yukon gold potatoes and some baby carrots as well. A touch of honey also balanced the savory-ness. I’m a hit or miss cook, but tonight the whole family enjoyed the meal!

Catherine

I love this recipe and see how it can be adapted for more veg, etc. This was my first time making it and only had coconut cream in the house and at the end the sauce was perfect and thick. I will be making this again.

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Coconut Chicken Curry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does curry need coconut milk or cream? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

How to enhance the taste of chicken curry? ›

Fixing cooked curries and gravies is no less than a challenge, but a simple way to do so is by adding freshly chopped herbs like coriander, basil, fenugreek leaves, spinach, mint leaves. The fresh flavour of these herbs can instantly elevate the taste and texture and give them a health twist.

Why is my chicken curry not tasty? ›

The answer is definitely a lack of salt. Particularly if you're new to cooking or new to cooking dishes like curries and stews, you might not be accustomed to the amount of salt you need to add to your food to bring out the flavor of the dish.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

What adds depth to curry? ›

You can give a curry depth by adding umami goodness. Umami is one of the basic five tastes and is often described as a meaty, savoury deliciousness that deepens a dish's flavour. Natural foods that peak umami taste receptors include tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and roasted spice.

Is it okay not to put coconut milk in chicken curry? ›

Yes, it is possible to make chicken curry without coconut. Coconut is a common ingredient in many curry recipes, but it is not essential. There are many alternative ingredients that can be used to add flavor and thickness to the curry sauce, such as tomatoes, yogurt, or heavy cream.

Do you put yogurt or coconut milk in curry? ›

If it's North Indian dish, it's mostly cream in curry and hung yogurt for marination. If it's southern Indian dish, it's either yoghurt. Most of Indian cuisines don't use coconut milk. We use either fresh grated coconut or dried coconut.

Should I add yogurt or cream to curry? ›

A Yes, you can use cream or crème fraîche in your curries. What you will get is the same delicious creamy quality to the curry as if you had used yogurt, but it will simply be a little sweeter and milder in taste. You should spice your curry with this in mind.

What is the secret ingredient in curry? ›

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

What thickens chicken curry? ›

Tomato puree/ paste

Adding tomato puree is probably the most common method of thickening curry sauces. Simply add the tomato puree during the cooking process rather than adding it at the end. This will help to thicken your curry or pasta sauce from the beginning, speeding up the cooking time.

What's missing from my curry? ›

Curries can be bland if you haven't used enough of the base aromatics of garlic, ginger, and onion. The onion should be caramelized in oil until well browned and flavorful.

Does curry taste better the longer it cooks? ›

Let it cook for as long as possible. Simmering a curry allows time for the flavours to infuse; a long, slow simmering time generally produces the best curry. Flavours will continue to infuse even when the curry is taken off the heat, so do allow time for the curry to “rest” and cool down before serving.

Should I blend onions for curry? ›

You can surely purée your onions before making the gravy to get a more creamier texture for the sauce. But puréed onions takes a lot more time to sauté and get cooked than chopped onions. My shortcut method is to slice the onions, sauté them in oil and then make a purée.

How to make curry taste like restaurant? ›

Simple suggestions for restaurant good quality curries:
  1. Fry your onions till they are golden brown.
  2. Fry your spices but don't burn them. ...
  3. Use good quality spices. ...
  4. Seasoning. ...
  5. Use fatty yoghurt (greek style works) in curries to make them richer. ...
  6. Patience. ...
  7. Use a neutral vegetable oil. ...
  8. Experiment.
Jun 24, 2018

What is the secret ingredient for curry? ›

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

What makes a delicious curry? ›

The three core ingredients of almost any Indian curry are garlic, onion and ginger. There are a few styles of curries that don't use garlic to ensure subtle flavour isn't overwhelmed, but it's a good rule of thumb that those three ingredients are likely to be included.

What is the secret to Thai curry? ›

The secret to making amazing Thai curries is to use plenty of aromatics, like onion, ginger and garlic. Choose full-fat coconut milk for its richness (you won't regret it!). Stirring in just a little bit of rice vinegar and sugar adds tons of complexity.

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