A great coconut curry in Thailand is like a comforting pot-au-feu in France—every cook has their own twist. As a home chef who's perfected this over years of experimenting with Asian flavors, I'm sharing my reliable chicken curry with coconut milk recipe.
Keep it our little secret: it costs just €1.80 per person! Swap chicken for beef, duck, or white fish like cod for variety—cod is my personal favorite with the creamy coconut milk and fresh cilantro.
Ingredients for 4 People
- 2 chicken cutlets
- 3 carrots
- 1 bunch (30g) fresh coriander, chopped
- 1 stirred yogurt
- 1 carton (200ml) coconut milk
- 250g basmati or Thai rice
- 1 jar green curry paste
- 2 tablespoons Nuoc Mam
- 1 pinch paprika
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- Peanut or sunflower oil
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cut the chicken cutlets into strips and slice the onion.
- Prepare a julienne of carrots.
- In a bowl, mix the yogurt, Nuoc Mam, and 1 tablespoon green curry paste.
- Brush the chicken with this marinade and let it rest in a bowl while prepping the rest.
- In a wok, sauté the onions and carrot julienne in a drizzle of oil over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the marinated chicken strips and brown with the vegetables for 10 minutes on medium-high heat.
- Meanwhile, cook the basmati rice in salted boiling water. Cover to make it sticky.
- Pour in the coconut milk, add a pinch of curry powder and paprika, and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped fresh coriander.
The Result
Your coconut chicken curry is ready—simple, practical, and irresistibly delicious! This affordable recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Serve with sticky rice for the full experience.
Bonus Tip: Perfect Sticky Rice Without a Rice Cooker
Sticky rice elevates Thai chicken curry. No rice cooker? No problem. Use glutinous rice from a Thai store or supermarket.
Rinse until water runs clear to remove starch. Steam in a colander over a pot of boiling water for about 20 minutes, tasting for perfect stickiness.
Budget Breakdown
- 2 chicken cutlets: 300g at €9.48/kg = €2.84
- 3 carrots: 375g at €1.50/kg = €0.56
- 1 bunch fresh coriander: 30g at €20.56/kg = €0.62
- 1 stirred yogurt: 125g at €1.14/kg = €0.14
- 200ml coconut milk: €4.25/L = €0.85
- 250g rice: €2.22/kg = €0.56
- 1 jar green curry paste: 115g at €11.30/kg = €1.30
- 2 tbsp Nuoc Mam: 30ml at €11.68/L = €0.35
Total: €7.22 for 4 (€1.80 per person)—exotic flavor on a budget.
Your Turn
How do you make your coconut curry? Share your recipes in the comments—I'd love to try them!
