This Coconut Chicken Curry proves you don’t need a long list of spices or a jar of curry paste to make a truly Indian-tasting curry – just 3 simple spices and very little effort. Tastes like a coconut-y Rogan Josh! I love that it’s made from scratch rather than using a jar of paste.
Coconut Chicken Curry
This is just a Coconut Chicken Curry recipe that is quick, easy and fabulous. It’s not the first coconut curry I’ve shared, and definitely won’t be the last. Some versions are more involved, with longer spice lists, longer cooking times, or marinating time.
This one is none of that – but it still tastes like a real Indian curry. Consider it a dialled up version of the western-style Chicken Curry from the 80’s which will always have a place in my life!
It’s based on a Lentil Curry I shared years ago, a streamlined take on Indian Dal with that same irresistible curry flavour but far less effort, using just a couple of spices. This version uses three – curry powder, turmeric, and cumin – and my friends say it tastes like a creamy, coconut-y take on Rogan Josh that’s real-Indian-flavoured enough to keep the grown ups happy but mild enough for the kids. Everybody’s happy!
Ingredients in Coconut Chicken Curry
Here’s what you need to make this Coconut Chicken Curry.
Fresh ginger and garlic – This recipe calls for 1 1/2 tablespoons of each. I know that’s a lot! But this the backbone to getting tasty flavour using so few spices in this curry sauce. Both the ginger and garlic are grated so you’ll make quick work of preparing them – no need to finely mince with a knife!
Boneless chicken thighs – Stays juicier than breast so it’s my preferred cut. If using breast, add it in for the last 5 minutes of the simmering time to prevent it from overcooking and drying out.
Curry powder – Just regular Western-style curry powder you get from grocery stores, like Clives of Indian and Keens. While I find they are a little plain used by themselves, when pimped up with other spices and fresh garlic and ginger, it is a wonderful shortcut to flavour!
Turmeric and cumin – Extra spices to give the sauce flavour a boost. Turmeric also gives the sauce a lovely warm yellow glow.
Coconut CREAM rather than milk – For a richer, fuller-bodied sauce with better coconut flavour that thickens faster than using coconut milk. Recipe shortcut. 🙂 (Fun fact: Coconut cream only has ~15% more calories and fat than coconut milk, so the calorie trade-off is modest. They are also the same price.)
Quality note: Use a good coconut cream – the best ones are 100% coconut and naturally thick (like Ayam), while cheaper versions (as low as 75% coconut) are diluted with water and thickeners.
Coconut oil or other oil – Also for flavour reasons, I use coconut oil rather than a flavourless vegetable oil, though you can really use any cooking oil, butter, or ghee. Be sure to use virgin or unrefined coconut oil which has coconut flavour, sold in jars as it’s firm like butter at room temperature, melts with heat. Refined coconut oil, which is commonly in liquid form, has had the coconut flavour removed.
Tomato paste – This helps thicken the sauce, adds colour and a touch of flavour too.
Chicken stock/broth – The liquid for simmering. I did try with water, but for a speedy recipe, I couldn’t get enough flavour in the sauce. See tip below on cost savings using chicken powder instead.
Onion – Use one large onion or two smaller ones. It is part of the flavour base.
Chickpeas – I use this to fill the curry out just by cracking the lid of a can! Other ideas – potato (see below), lentils.
Other add-in SUGGESTIONS
I deliberately made this curry very saucy for great rice soakage, so there’s sufficient sauce for more add-ins if you’d like to incorporate vegetables and/or bulk the curry out to serve more. Here are some ideas.
Potato – Cut into cubes so they cook through in the 13 minute sauce simmer time. Add in addition to or replace the chickpeas
Leafy greens – Like baby spinach, torn pieces of kale, frozen spinach. Stir them in at the end.
Frozen peas – I regret not adding these now, I held off because it would look so similar to the retro Chicken Curry! Add them in at the beginning of the simmer time.
Other diced vegetables – Zucchini, capsicum/bell peppers, carrots etc. Sauté after the onion.
Lentils – Add a can of lentils, or use dried split lentils and simmer for a little longer until they are cooked through.
💰 Cost saving tip of the day
Using chicken bouillon powder rather than liquid stock or broth saves a lot of money – 75c versus $4.50 per litre (confession: I never buy full price!). However, not all chicken powders are created equal! The only ones I use in place of liquid chicken stock are Chinese chicken powders – Knorrs and Lee Kum Kee. I find these have a cleaner chicken flavour than Western brands which taste more artificial. You can get these at large grocery stores in metropolitan areas of Australia (Coles, Woolworths) as well as Asian stores.
To use: dissolve 1 1/2 teaspoon of powder per 250ml (1 cup) boiling water (instructions say 1 teaspoon but I find I need a little more). So you’ll need 2 1/4 teaspoons to make the 1 1/2 cups you need for this recipe.
How to make Coconut Chicken Curry
To help the sauce thicken faster, the liquid is reduced in two stages – first the chicken stock, then the coconut cream. It shaves close to 10 minutes off the simmer time!
Grate the ginger and garlic using a microplane. Not only is it quicker than mincing with a knife, grating is a a specific step here as we want it “paste-like” which is how it’s traditionally prepared for Indian curries.
Sauté – Melt the coconut oil in a pot then sauté the onion first to give it a head start. Then cook the ginger and garlic for 30 seconds – keep it moving so it doesn’t stick to the base (if it does, scrape). Next add the spices and stir for 15 seconds. If it starts to stick to the base of pot, add a splash of water then wait until the water evaporates before adding the chicken.
Coat chicken – Next, stir in the tomato paste then stir in the chicken to coat it in all the tasty flavours. The chicken doesn’t get cooked during this step, it gets cooked in the sauce.
Reduce stock 5 minutes – Add the chicken stock and simmer rapidly for 5 minutes to give it a head start reducing.
Simmer 8 minutes – Add the coconut cream, chickpeas and salt. Simmer rapidly for 8 minutes, stirring every now and then. The sauce will thicken a bit but will still seem a little on the thin side – it will thicken more with a brief 5 minutes rest to take some of the blazing hot heat out of the pot before you serve it.
Ready! Ladle over basmati rice, being generous with the sauce (I made a lot of it especially!). Dollop with a little yogurt, sprinkle with coriander leaves then get stuck in.
What to serve with this Coconut Chicken Curry
Serve over basmati rice, or other rice of choice (white, jasmine, brown). For a low carb option, try cauliflower rice (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!). It’s also pictured with homemade naan which really is easier to make than you think. Yes, it uses yeast, but it’s a no-knead dough. Otherwise, I often reach for this simple No-Yeast Flatbread, a great all-rounder for everything from gyros wraps to dipping into tzatziki and curries.
I’ve also added a drizzle of yogurt (just thin it with water) and a few fresh coriander leaves – the yogurt adds a cooling tang that balances the richness, while the coriander brings a hit of fresh, herby brightness. Simple but works really great for just about any curry.
As for a side salad, a Minted Yogurt Cucumber Salad is my favourite one for Indian night. Cooling, refreshing and quick to make.
Hope you enjoy! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Coconut Chicken Curry – quick, easy, fabulous
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp unrefined coconut oil (virgin), ie coconut flavoured, or butter, ghee, or any cooking oil you want (Note 1)
- 500 g/1lb boneless chicken thighs , cut into ~2cm / 0.8" pieces (Note 2)
- 1 large onion , diced
- 1 1/2 tbsp garlic , finely grated using a microplane (~6 large cloves)
- 1 1/2 tbsp ginger , finely grated using a microplane
- 2 1/2 tbsp curry powder , mild – just regular ones like Clives, Keens (feel free to use HOT for spicy!)
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock/broth , low sodium
- 400g / 14oz coconut cream (substitute coconut milk), full fat (Note 3)
- 400g / 14oz can chickpeas , drained
- 1 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (halve for table salt, double for flakes)
Serving:
- Plain yogurt , slightly thinned with water to make it drizzle-able
- Coriander leaves (cilantro) , roughly chopped, recommended
- Basmati rice (you'll need to cook 3 cups rice grains to make enough) or other rice of choice
- Naan , optional
Instructions
ABBREVIATED
- Melt oil, sauté onion, then garlic and ginger. Toast spices, then tomato paste, coat chicken. Reduce chicken stock by half (5 min), then add coconut, chickpeas and salt. Simmer rapidly 8 min, stand 5 min then serve over rice.
FULL RECIPE
- Sauté – Melt the coconut oil in a large pot over medium high heat (or a large deep skillet). Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and ginger, stir constantly for 30 seconds (scrape base if it starts to stick).
- Toast spices – Add the curry powder, turmeric and cumin. Stir for 15 seconds, taking care to make sure it doesn't stick and burn on base (if it does, add splash of water).
- Coat chicken – Add tomato paste and stir to coat all the onion, then add the chicken and stir to coat.
- Reduce chicken stock 5 minutes – Add the chicken stock, stir well, then once it starts bubbling, simmer rapidly for 5 minutes to reduce the liquid, stirring once in a while (adjust heat as needed, we want rapid bubbles – this is a speedy recipe remember!).
- Simmer 8 minutes – Add the coconut cream, chickpeas and salt. Stir well, bring back up to a simmer then simmer rapidly for 8 minutes, stirring every now and then. The sauce should be creamy but a little thinner than you'd expect.
- Serve – Remove the pot from the stove and leave to cool for 5 minutes, during which time the sauce will thicken a bit more. Serve over basmati rice with a drizzle of yogurt and sprinkle of fresh coriander. I wouldn't say not to a warm naan or flatbread either. 🙂
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Remembering Dozer
This has nothing to do with today’s recipe, but I came across this photo the other day and it made me laugh. Dozer was such a heavy sleeper! He also wasn’t allowed on the couch – so naturally, we used it as an excuse to see just how deeply he slept.
Pretty deep, it turns out. We ran out of cushions. 😂
Flower robber update – In other news! I’m happy to report the Dozer flower robber seems to have retired from their life of crime. Not a single bloom has gone missing lately from the Dozer memorial outside RecipeTin Meals, which either means they’ve turned over a new leaf or found a more lucrative patch elsewhere. 🌻🌻🌻
And that little “D” biscuit you spy was made using scraps from JB’s Galettes Bretonnes which I made on the weekend. I was happy to hear from the team at RTM that the ants have left that alone. All in all a good weekend – no flower robber, and ant free!
Dear Dozer – On the weekend, a breeder sent me a photo of the most adorable litter of golden retriever puppies and said that the gold boy had my name on it. I know getting a new puppy would cheer me up, but I also know I’m not ready because I bawled like a baby for hours.
It’s been 68 days since I lost you, and while some days I’m better, other days it hurts like it was yesterday. A friend told me that it takes great courage to love so completely as I did you, and I understood what she was saying but didn’t really “get it”. But now I do – because, damn it hurts.
I am not sure when I’m going to be ready, and I know it’s different for everyone. But for me, I don’t think I am the right type of person to get a new dog as a bandaid, but rather a new chapter I step into with a full heart, not one still breaking.
Then again, maybe I’m wrong, because you were my first, and I don’t really know what “ready” is. Maybe, as so many wonderful supportive readers say, I should look at a new fur baby as a new door opening rather than closing the door on you.
I miss you every day. I hope you are living your best life up in the Big Sky Kitchen, surrounded by endless snacks and very questionable rules about staying off the couch. Love – your mum. xx
Dearest Nagi,
When you mentioned the breeder and a golden boy something stirred in me. When I lost my Billie almost 12 years ago I was so upset I just wanted to die. Literally. I stopped eating. Not to consciously starve myself but because I couldn’t face eating. Or anything else. All I could do was cry and look at pictures of him and stroke the fur I had cut from his tail before I buried him in front of my bedroom.
Via a minor miracle a tiny dog the size of a guinea pig found his way into my arms and I adopted him. Named him Maxi. He is still with me.
For the first six weeks the two of us stayed in bed, him playing and sleeping, me crying and learning to smile again. He was nothing like my Billie, he wasn’t another dog, he was AN OTHER dog.
And one morning as I was waking up I saw my Billie at the foot of my bed, I swear to God. It was like he was saying “good, you’re not alone anymore, I can now fly high.” After that losing Billie hurt a lot less, the constant crying eased, I could feel genuine joy again.
The Queen said that grief is the price we pay for love. Love – the purest there is – is what dogs give us. Maybe you could take a look at that puppy. It won’t be Dozer, unfortunately. But it may be his brother or sister in spirit, sent (perhaps by Dozer) to fill you up to overflowing with a NEW love, that can be just as wonderful as what you had with Dozer. Just differently.
I hope these thoughts of mine help to lift your spirits.
God Bless and stay strong, Love, Irini
Don’t post this, just read it. The new recruit could Never be a bandaid…over a canyon. He is the spark of light in the darkness…the glimmer of love’s hope forward. It may Never feel right. Like the commenter said, “I still miss my first cat but am sitting here 45 years later with my new cat.” I’m guessing he isn’t a bandaid. As you can see, her heart is no more “full” than it was 45 years ago. There’s really only Now. The song that just started playing is called Everlasting Love. Be it 5 months or 55 years, it will Always feel this way. The new boy can’t be Doze and never will. Do you think Doze wants his mum to be sad and alone? If a guy called and said, “I’ve got your golden boy,” after I told you he was awaiting you, it may be a sign, Not a sigh! Maybe Doze picked him out?! It’s never going to “feel right”…how could it. There is only Now’s continuum. It is more of a “sneak up on the moment, grab your keys and Go, while saying “Come on, Doze! Let’s check this boy out!!”” Keep your ‘logical unhelpful mind’ Out of it; it’ll try and cast guilt and shade your way. Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt…looking backward! Forward is the way. You aren’t bricking up a window and closing a door; you are adding a window to another wall and in time you will grow to appreciate and enjoy its views. The next song playing, randomly, is “Into the Spirit” from the Connected album!
Likewise, you don’t stop the grieving process to open the door and let the new boy out for a wee. It is absolutely going to feel awkward, “too early,” wrong (that’s the mind’s unhelpfulness hard at work), surreal, or hopeless for a time as the grieving process continues while you go thru the motions of taking care of new needs. You Will feel like strangers under one roof for a while. This is Normal and totally part of the process. You two will also, over time, forge your own bond, joys, relationship, and rhythms. The more you can “dig deep amid the dark cloud” for the joy and the promise of the new day, the richer and sweeter and more hopeful each day will become. He won’t be “the guy” but he’ll be your guy…with The Guy peering over his shoulder at a pork chop. The more you can reach in and be a good mum for the new gold, the more the dark cloud will become also illuminated. To quote a line from a fave movie, “The time to do something is when the time is right.” Hah! Just as I typed that, a heart emoji popped up in the suggestions!!
So many times we need to do things when the time is right rather than when you “feel ready.” Those times may never come (the feeling ready bit). You are always going to try to go forward by looking backward, because the process won’t make how you feel “go anywhere.” This is the new normal…and what you Can do is start the process of getting past that surreal, unbonded stage and start weaving moments of lightness and hopefulness into the days. Eventually you will find yourself able to enjoy a sandwich and a romp, even though that ache will still always be there. You could shift it into gratitude for the years you Did have together, and ride that into a brighter future.
What you don’t want to do is miss out on the right thing because you are mired in the greiving process. You will be doing both things at once – you’re no stranger to that – and both the open doors will help you heal and thrive. The “double button” idea keeps your dual mum-ship alive and well, while also allowing you to become a great mum with someone you will come to appreciate and enjoy in his own right over time. Don’t try to make it be something or force anything. Having a new recruit isn’t a free pass from greiving; it is just the sun (son!) peeking thru the dark clouds and the promise of a day that contains the absence but also the promise, if that makes sense. You will Always have both things to go thru; grieving and the surrealness of the new. That is normal. Just let it be what it is, be gentle with yourself, do the best you can. Eventually you two will stop being stangers and find your own routines and rhythms, and I feel like Doze will always be near and overlooking, and co-enjoying.
If I were you, I would reach out to that guy with the new boy and hit a moment where you are laughing despite yourself, grab your keys and dash out the door before your mind can start “helping,” and go check him out. If he’s the Right One, then he is. If he is, then now is the time, whether it “feels” like it is time or not…cuz it may Never feel that way. That is why I said you would recognize the new recruit because he would be the one looking at you with that “What kept you” look. Humans overcomplicate things unnecessarily sometimes. You wouldn’t have wanted Doze going to someone else because you…waffled…for whatever reason.
“The time to do something is when the time is right.”
This is deep, nuance-y and hard to explain. There is a movie I would recommend. I haven’t seen it in a million years but it was special; young Sonia Braga days. Rich and artsy, but it conveys well the paradox. “Dona Flor and her two husbands.”
Doze was a soul mate. That isn’t replaceable nor is there a bandaid ever made big enough to span the chasm. There is always going to be the “But he isn’t…” This is why I said it is “time” to start “healing forward” with a new recruit. The weaving of new tapestry will naturally take time, as it is also a process, like your current phase. There is no bridging it. Getting it started now, after two months in the grieving process, to move past the awkward surrealism of the new while also healing in other ways is co-supportive and embracing the light from another window doesn’t cast shade on the light from the other. Throw both windows open in joy and determine to go forward enthusiastically and doing the best you can to infuse your life…and his…with that passion and joy that fills and surrounds RTE/RTM. It’s who you are. You can’t undo the past but you can enrich the future and the forward…but you have to start somewhere…and today is as good as any other is going to be for putting the foot of hope and joy forward into the new fronteirs.
Think about going and seeing the new boy. Bring Doze along to oversee. You’ll know if its right, but I suspect it is, since I told you to consider it And this guy said he has your boy! You can always drive away alone! Or not! If it turns out he is not right (and I seriously doubt that), you can adopt him out to another family. What you don’t want to do is miss Your Ship when it comes in. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t “feel” that way at the time. Your mind can be even less helpful in such situations. You just have to go past those limiting factors to a different level of smarts and knowing – go with your gut, cuz your instincts will give you a red light or a green light and you’ll recognize him…thru the doubts and miasma of feelings in process.
It IS quite possible Doze picked him out even before he left!! Can we humans ever really know the mysteries of life? The “impossible” occurs all the time!
It can’t be the wrong decision to go check him out and see if he is indeed The One. How did you know with Doze? Ask him to tell you before you arrive and just see what happens!
You can always drive off alone or adopt him out. It is a no harm, no foul option!
I hope you find the fortitude and irrefutable courage to push past all the other stuff going on and at least give him a look-see, or a trial run.
You’ll never hit a day where it’s “I don’t miss you anymore. Let’s go look at new things.” Not gonna happen. Ever. So….now what, cuz that’s the new regime. You have to just stand up and decide to push the catamaran off the shore and into the possibilities of new frontiers of joy and hope, even thru tears of grief.
I said it before, I’ll say it again, the days of you living in the absence of dog hair in everything should come to an end now…it’s time to shove off the shore and embrace the past and future frontiers with co-joy/double-joy as you heal forward. Sure, you can put this off for 2 years, 10 years, it won’t be any different then than now. But right now, there’s a new golden boy that needs a good mum. Someone to care about him, give him a snuggly bed and a full belly, buy him a new toy to keep him company in his new home, and relish in that dog hair on their toothbrush.
You just have to turn the page. Begin a new chapter without parting with any of the context of the entirety of the book. (You like how I worked that cookbooks idea in there?😉 I sent those ideas to business@RTE, in case you haven’t had a chance to review them yet.)
“Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, nor bends with the remover to remove. Oh no, it is an ever-fixed mark.” –Shakespeare
You may have to give yourself, like the catamaran, a good shove, but don’t stay moored while the sea of life leaves without you. That isn’t what Doze wants for his mum anyway.
Waiting until you have a “full heart” is how you Miss Your Ship. It’s not called a Leap of Ready; it’s called a Leap of Faith. (You can spend the rest of your life on this sandbar of grief. It doesn’t “go away.” You have to decide how you are going to Life Forward now, because if not today, then when??)
XO
Chicken coconut curry is amazing! and simple to cook!
All your recipes are amazing and I am looking forward to freezing some !
i am always spreading your website and how good you are 🥰
I made this recipe with a few modifications. I didnt have any ginger so I used ginger discs from the health food shop. I also added okra which just dissolved into the sauce. The recipe which I served to my 3 adult grandchildren was an amazing success with the leftovers being taken home by them.
This curry recipe sounds right up my alley, I shall be making it soon!
I share your loss & pain regarding Dozer. My fur baby was Ruby, a very cute, highly intelligent little bundle of joy & filled my days/nights with love & joy. It’s been 5 years since she went away & there are times when tears come to my eyes when I think of her. I’m so thinking of you!! xxJ
This curry recipe sounds right up my alley, I shall be making it soon!
I share your loss & pain regarding Dozer. My fur baby was Ruby, a very cute, highly intelligent little bundle of joy & filled my days/nights with love & joy. It’s been 5 years since she went away & there are times when tears come to my eyes when I think of her. I’m so thinking of you!! xxJ
Absolutely delicious, thank you. I added potatoes, carrots, green beans, and peas. Very quick and simple. Definitely making again
I was so excited when you posted this rice recipe yesterday 🤍 I couldn’t wait to try it, so I made it today — and wow, it was a huge hit! The whole family absolutely loved it 😍 Thank you so much for sharing your recipes, you make cooking so enjoyable ✨
Hi Nagi, this curry recipe looks delicious. I will definitely try it and the naan bread that you also mention. Re Dozer, he will always be one of a kind and irreplaceable so even if you get another puppy/dog, he/she will bring their own personality to love. We’ve had two great cats that had totally different personalities and both loved for their respective antics 😂. We have neighbours who always have two dogs and get a new puppy soon after they loose one. Perhaps having a visit with this new litter will tell you if you are ready for a new companion.
Dear Nagi, you will know when you are ready for your next fur baby.Give yourself time to grieve and breathe. 68 days of grief probably feels like yesterday to you.Nice you can laugh at funny photos of your boy. Take care xx
Nagi, maybe you could visit your friends who have Goldens and see how that makes you feel. Losing a loved one is always hard and I pray that you find what works best for you. Big hugs.
Made this for dinner tonight substituting fish for the chicken and it was AMAZING!!
I used NZ Stargazer (Monkfish), adding the fish pieces in for the last 4 minutes of the final simmer.
Also added in mushrooms, red capsicum and fennel with the onion, and a tin of lentils with the chickpeas.
Thank you once again for a quick and delicious mid week dinner!
Hi Nagi this easy peasy recipe is a winner, simple ingredients for such a fabulous meal. Again 5 stars for your creations.
You are a beautiful being, your heart so big and full of love for your greatly missed soulmate. You’ll know when/if in time you get a new addition to the family, never a replacement.
I made this curry tonight for dinner. What a winner. Best part is that it was super quick to make and the whole family loved it. Thank you Nagi.
This was such a delicious and easy curry to make. Dinner sorted! Thank you!
Just wanted to let you know that Knorr is not an Asian brand but a German one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knorr_%28brand%29#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DKnorr_%28%2Fn%C9%94%CB%90r%2F%3B%2Cmade_under_license_by_Ajinomoto.?wprov=sfla1
“…a breeder sent me a photo…” I’ve heard of cold calling selling but that takes the cake! Leave the poor girl alone!
Chicken curry… we love it here 😊!
I do keep the recipe ! Turmeric (curcuma or safran péi here) is a staple here, many people grow it in their garden and use it to cure bad colds.
For the time being, I am at page 292 of Dinner…. Guinness Stew underway 😋
Would I be able to use bbq chicken
Delicious, easy curry!
I added a little pinch of sugar and some fenugreek leaves (just because they’re on hand) and it’s super delish! Mild enough the kids should like it and the chickpeas give a nice little pop (and make the chicken stretch that bit further)
Made it tonight. Added a cubed potato and half a cup of red lentils and cooked it about 15mins longer than the recipe. It was great. Very similar to both the everyday curry and the lentil curry. Kind of like the best of both those recipes!