Curry Coconut Milk Chicken Thighs Recipe | Curry Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

When to add coconut milk to curry? ›

Once the spices and veg have cooked, add in the coconut milk and a couple cups of chicken stock. Turn the heat up so it comes to a boil and then lower to about medium heat and cook for 10-15 minutes. Just until it starts to thicken! I normally do 10 minutes, but if you like a really thick sauce, take it longer.

The chicken is briefly browned in a frying pan and then cooked in a creamy, mildly spiced sauce. If the chicken is rubbery in texture then it is likely that it is being overcooked, or cooked too fiercely.

You'll need salt, pepper, both onion and garlic powders, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Add a dash of cayenne pepper for a little heat. Extra virgin olive oil: helps the seasoning mix adhere to the chicken thighs, and gets the skin golden brown and crispy.

For example, if consuming products that are low in fat is a priority, coconut milk may not be your best choice due to its high fat content, which contributes most of the calories of coconut milk. In addition, regarding protein content, cow's milk and soy milk have more protein than coconut milk and almond milk.

Tip. Add a teaspoon of cornstarch to a dish to prevent curdling of coconut milk. Adding cornstarch will also thicken the sauce, so don't use it if you're making a dish that requires a thin sauce.

Step 1: Brown the meat

Searing the meat is a great way to build layers of flavor into your curry, but you'll need to add it in batches to get a hard sear and prevent steaming. Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the meat in batches, browning it on all sides, about 5 minutes.

Chop the chicken into chunky 3cm pieces, add to the pan and fry for 5 mins before stirring through the spice paste and tomatoes, along with 250ml water. Bring to the boil, lower to a simmer and cook on a gentle heat uncovered for 25-30 mins or until rich and slightly reduced.

Chicken thigh: Chicken thigh is a flavorful and juicy cut of meat that is perfect for slow-cooking curries. It is also relatively inexpensive, making it a good option for budget-minded cooks.

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.

Yes, it's perfectly fine to add the raw chicken to the simmering curry sauce. Just be sure to continue to simmer the curry until the chicken is completely done.

Why is my chicken rubbery in curry? ›

Overcooking chicken and buying woody chicken breast are two of the main causes behind rubbery chicken. You can stop this from happening by: buying “slow-growing” chicken. cooking your chicken in moisture.

Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

The key is to cook them slowly.

(That discovery is what led to the supple meat in our Mahogany Chicken Thighs and Grilled Spice-Rubbed Chicken Drumsticks recipes.)

Cook at Higher Temperatures

The ideal temperature to cook your chicken should be around 275 °F – 320 °F (135 °C – 160 °C). As you start to decrease temperature beyond this threshold, the skin will become rubbery. The chicken fat needs to be cooked into the meat, and that cannot happen when your temperature is very low.

Coconut milk or cream

Coconut milk is a vegan option for all curries. You can also try adding a splash of milk, if that's all you have to hand. Milk contains a protein called casein which actually breaks down capsaicin and makes it less spicy – both full-fat and skimmed do the trick nicely.

Cornstarch is another popular thickening agent. To create a slurry, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water. Add the slurry to your curry and bring it to a simmer. Keep in mind that cornstarch should be added towards the end of cooking, as overcooking can cause the sauce to thin again.

Coconut milk curdles when cooked too long at high temperatures. Coconut milk is a thick and creamy liquid that's extracted from the pulpy meat of a coconut. It's widely used in Indian, South Asian, Pacific Island and Caribbean cuisine to bring a creamy, cool flavor to spicy curries, stews and stir-fries.

Substitute coconut milk for dairy milk in your favorite oatmeal, chia pudding, pancake, and waffle recipes. Blend it into smoothie to add a creamy texture or make a coconut milk-based smoothie parfait.