Easy Chicken Curry with Spices and Coconut Milk

I absolutely love Indian food, as it has so many different spices and there are so many regional variations in the cuisine. This dish is prepared more in a southern style as it has coconut milk. Experiment with the level of heat, by reducing the number of chilies or by seeding them.

When working with chilies it is important to remember to wash your hands with soap and water, before you continue cooking. The heat and the oils are in the seeds and even more so in the inner membrane, so you can remove these to reduce the heat, but you need to use care as it’s easy to forget and rub your eyes and I can assure you if you do this and get these irritant oils in your eyes, you won’t forget a second time. I speak from personal experience!

This is definitely one of my favorite curries and I like it because it can be made relatively quickly. The key to this dish is to have all of your ingredients arranged, so you aren’t scrambling around the kitchen trying to find things once you have begun cooking. I find this works very well with a wok or karahi, but feel free to use what suits you.

Looking for a vegetarian side dish or main, try Easy Authentic Spinach Curry Recipe

And one of my favorites, Delicious Bhindi Masala: Step-by-Step Guide

Need help stocking your Indian pantry, Building an Indian Pantry: Essential Ingredients

Want a shortcut for curry in a hurry?

If you make your masala paste in advance, this curry comes together in 20 minutes, Indian Masala Gravy Recipe – The Foundation for Countless Curries

Ingredients: 

1 lb Chicken Breasts or Thighs, cut into 1 ½ inch cubes

3 Tbsp Vegetable oil

4 cloves Garlic, finely chopped, crushed or mashed with a mortar and pestle

2 inch piece fresh Ginger root, finely chopped, grated or mashed with a mortar and pestle

1 large Onion, sliced very thinly. A mandoline is very handy for this.

2-4 Thai Chilies, seeds removed if you don’t want it too hot.

2 Tbsp of Masala Paste, or a store bought Curry Paste like Patek’s.

1 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Salt

2 tsp Garam Masala

1 Red Pepper, cut into cubes to match the size of chicken pieces

10 Cherry Tomatoes cut in half

½ cup Coconut Milk, more if needed once you begin cooking

Fresh Coriander, chopped. About ¼ cup.

Preparation:

Heat your wok/pan and then add garlic, ginger and sauté for about 1 minute, add your chilies, and do not let it brown or burn. Add your onion and cook until the onion is well caramelized.

Add your turmeric; curry paste and quickly sauté, again not letting it brown. Now add the chicken and sauté just until the chicken has turned white. 

Add the tomatoes, red pepper and garam masala, salt and stir well. Add the coconut milk and let it simmer for approx. 10 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked. If the mixture becomes too thick add a little bit of the coconut milk to keep a medium thickness sauce.

Just before serving stir in the fresh coriander and then serve immediately with basmati rice.

Easy Chicken Curry with Spices and Coconut Milk

I absolutely love Indian food, as it has so many different spices and there are so many regional variations in the cuisine. This dish is prepared more in a southern style as it has coconut milk. Experiment with the level of heat, by reducing the number of chilies or by seeding them.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Chicken Breasts or Thighs cut into 1 ½ inch cubes
  • 3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 4 cloves Garlic finely chopped, crushed or mashed with a mortar and pestle
  • 2 inch piece of fresh Ginger Root finely chopped, grated or mashed with a mortar and pestle
  • 1 large Onion sliced very thinly. A mandoline is very handy for this.
  • 2-4 Thai Chilies seeds removed if you don’t want it too hot.
  • 1 tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 2 tsp Garam Masala
  • 1 Red Pepper cut into cubes to match the size of chicken pieces
  • 10 Cherry Tomatoes cut in half
  • ½ cup Coconut Milk more if needed once you begin cooking
  • Fresh Coriander chopped. About ¼ cup.

Equipment

  • Wok or Saute Pan

Method
 

  1. Heat your wok/pan and then add garlic, ginger and sauté for about 1 minute, add your chilies, and do not let it brown or burn. Add your onion and cook until the onion is well caramelized.
  2. Add your turmeric; curry paste and quickly sauté, again not letting it brown. Now add the chicken and sauté just until the chicken has turned white.
  3. Add the tomatoes, red pepper and garam masala, salt and stir well. Add the coconut milk and let it simmer for approx. 10 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked. If the mixture becomes too thick add a little bit of the coconut milk to keep a medium thickness sauce.
  4. Just before serving stir in the fresh coriander and then serve immediately with basmati rice.

Notes

Enjoy my recipes, Join the Kitchen

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