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This delicious coconut Thai chicken curry is bursting with flavor from cumin, coriander and mustard seeds, ground ginger, yellow curry and turmeric powder and lots of vegetables. Red bell pepper, pineapple and lime juice add freshness and chopped peanuts make for a crunchy finish.
This post was originally published on May 19, 2015. I have updated it with more information and photos to make it better and to share it with you again today.
How to make Thai chicken curry:
You start by boiling 1 large, roughly chopped yellow onion in a mix of 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Once the onion is cooked, you process it into a puree in the food processor. The onion puree not only adds flavor to this dish, it also acts as the thickener for this curry and creates a really smooth texture.
Next, you set the onion puree aside and get out your Dutch oven or cast iron pan. (Either one will work but the Dutch oven will do a better job at keeping in any splatter).
You heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and then fry the spice seeds in it (1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds, 1/8 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1/8 teaspoon coriander seeds). Once the seeds start to sizzle, you carefully add the onion puree and fry it for about 15 minutes.
Next you add 1 minced or pressed garlic clove, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric and 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder.
Once you’ve mixed everything together and it’s well combined you add in the remaining ingredients: 2 medium-sized boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces, 1.5 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 can coconut milk (13.5 ounces), 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into chunks, and 1 can pineapple chunks (8 ounces). Bring the mix to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
To finish the dish, sprinkle on a bit of lime juice and top with chopped peanuts, green onion and cilantro.
Use high quality curry powder:
What’s really important for this recipe is that you use high-quality curry powder from a dedicated spice shop. High quality spices make a huge difference in any dish but I find that that is especially true for curries and for curry powder.
The difference in quality between curry powders from different sources can literally be night and day and regular grocery stores are simply not up to the task, in my experience.
Is this Thai chicken curry spicy?
The level of spiciness in this Thai chicken curry is determined by the yellow curry powder. I recommend you get mild curry powder for a mild curry and medium for a curry that has a bit of a kick to it.
How should I serve this curry?
Garnish the curry with fresh cilantro, chopped green onion and chopped peanuts and serve over rice with a fresh slice of lime on the side.
More delicious curry recipes:
Thai Chicken Curry
Ingredients:
- 1 large yellow onion
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon whole yellow mustard seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
- 1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
- 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon high-quality yellow curry powder
- 2 medium-sized boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces and sprinkled with salt
- 1.5 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can coconut milk (13.5 ounces)
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 can pineapple chunks (8 ounces), drained
- lime juice
- chopped peanuts
- chopped green onion
- chopped cilantro
Instructions:
- Peel the onion and chop into 2-inch chunks.
- Put the chopped onion into a pot along with chicken broth and 1/2 cup of water. Boil without a lid until almost all liquid has evaporated.
- Puree the onion in a food processor. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a cast iron pan or a Dutch oven until shimmering.
- Add mustard, cumin and coriander seeds to the oil and fry on medium-low heat for 2 – 3 minutes. (The seeds need to sizzle but be careful not to burn them.)
- Carefully add the onion puree.
- Fry the onion puree for 15 minutes on medium heat.
- Add garlic, ginger, turmeric and curry and stir until you have a homogeneous mix.
- Add the chicken pieces and fry for about 2 minutes.
- Add tomato paste, coconut milk and soy sauce and mix well.
- Add bell pepper and pineapple, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle with lime juice to taste and add peanuts, green onion and cilantro as garnish and serve with rice.
Nutrition
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Hi Nicole ~~~ I had lots of fun wandering through your web site. Your Thai Chicken Curry caught my eye. For the longest time I wouldn’t even think of making anything with curry in it … that is, until I discoverd mild curry powder. I always have checken breasts & thighs in the freezer and would you believe I even had ALL the ingredients on hand .. even the peanuts! I used Maui onion and green onions and cilantro from our herb garden. Cooked all in my dutch oven. IT WAS YUMMY! Thanks so much for sharing!
I love to hear that, Nancy! So glad you enjoyed the curry, it’s one of my favorites. Thank you so much for leaving feedback, I really appreciate that. :)
Wow, Nicole! That sauce is amazing! Love that spice paste – so much flavor! Definitely have to try this – the family will love it!
Thanks, Kelly! I love the sauce too, it’s so flavorful and yet so easy to make. Hope you’re having a lovely weekend. :)
Just made it tonight. Easy to make and delicious. I used fresh ginger instead of powdered and served with stir fried bok choy. Thank you for a great recipe.
SO great to hear that, Shelley. Thank you so much for the feedback!! :)
Looks fantastic Nicole! I love all the exotic spices + coconut milk!
Thank you, Allie! :)
Curry is my absolute favorite, and I’m always on the lookout for a new recipe to try. :) And just gorgeous shot, Nicole!
Thanks, Shinee! Glad you like it!. ;)
So beautiful (as was the video link, thanks!) and the recipe flavors sound yum on this rainy day. The addition of the pineapple made it for me… a must try. Thanks Nicole!
Thanks, Kevin! Glad you enjoyed the video too, I really did like the atmosphere they created in that. The curry is probably even better with fresh pineapple but it’s more or less impossible to get fresh and ripe tropical fruit up here in the mountains…
We’ve often thought of moving to Portland and greener pastures, but find California has spoiled me in weather and food availability. There’s a give and take for everything right? Plus, we get to visit family in Portland yearly to get our love of the green and mountains in!
Isn’t that the truth indeed!:) But generally the CO mountains are as close to a perfect location for me as is gets and I can (mostly) overlook the lack of fresh juicy fruit in the winter (and the occasional 5 feet of snow in May…).
This photo is gorgeous! Also, I LOVE curry! This looks fantastic!
Thank you so much, Cathleen! :)
Ooooh, homemade curries, this is totally my kind of food too! I haven’t seen a recipe like this before. Is this yours? Keen to try it!
Yes, it’s mine, I based it very loosely off of these two recipes: http://thespicetrain.com/2014/05/01/chicken-vindaloo-curry/ and http://thespicetrain.com/2014/05/01/shrimp-coconut-curry/. :)
Oh my my my…You sure do make that look amazing! Absolutely incredible!
You’re so sweet, Mila. Thank you!! xo
This sounds delicious and love the photo. Thanks for the photography and styling tips, it very useful :)
Glad to hear that! Thank you so much for stopping by, Atika! :)
Nicole, this dish looks absolutely delicious! LOVE your styling tip here about letting the texture show on the surface. Thanks for the tips!
You’re so welcome, Lisa! Glad you find it helpful. :)