Red Thai Curry Recipe

THIS 30 MINUTE THAI RED CURRY CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES IS WONDERFULLY COCONUT CREAMY, BURSTING WITH LAYERS OF FLAVOR, INCREDIBLY EASY AND ALL MADE IN ONE POT!  DEFINITELY A NEW FAVORITE AT OUR HOUSE AND BETTER THAN ANY RESTAURANT!

You guys HAVE to make this Thai Red Curry Chicken Recipe!  I don’t beg often, so I hope you know I never cry wolf.  If you are a lover of Thai Food, you will be a LOVER of this warm, comforting, multi-dimensional Thai Red Curry Chicken with Vegetables!  Its a one pot wonder worthy of any weeknight or weekend and you should be able to find all the ingredients at your local grocery store!

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how to make Thai Red Curry Recipe

 

Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines with its depth of layered flavors that create a savory symphony in every bite.    I’ve created several of my restaurant favorites into takeout fakeout versions from Chicken Pad Thai, Panang Curry, Coconut Curry Chicken, Yellow Curry, Tom Kha Gai.  and now this INSANELY delicious Thai Red Curry Chicken Recipe!!!   (update, this Red Curry Chicken Recipe made my Most Popular Recipes of 2017!  AKA it’s a winner!)

As I was looking at my other “Thai” or “curry”recipes,  many of them boast how quickly they come together in the title, “30 Minute Pantry Friendly Panang Curry,” “30 Minute Pineapple Red Curry Chicken Stir Fry,” “20 Minute Thai Red Curry Beef  Tacos” – so apparently Thai food is quick and easy?   YES IT IS!!!  Thanks to to the magical store bought Thai red curry paste that packs a huge flavor punch.  The premade red curry paste is comprised of finely ground coriander, peppercorns, Kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, cilantro, shallot, garlic, and fresh chiles – all combined for you.  No wonder it adds tons of flavor with minimal effort.

The key to bringing the red curry paste alive and for its flavors to permeate the entire dish, is to saute it with plenty of onion, garlic and ginger.  We also stir fry our chicken, bell peppers and zucchini directly in the simmering red curry paste to infuse it with the dynamic flavors all before we add the coconut milk.  Feel free to change up the vegetables to whatever suits your mood or make Thai Red Curry Chicken – cleaning-out-the-fridge-style with whatever you need to use up. It will be the best use of miscellaneous veggies Ever.

To further the complexity of flavors, we also add Thai sweet chili sauce, and the classic cast of Thai food characters: soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, dried basil and a bay leaf.  Its a somewhat long list of ingredients, but most of them you are just dumping into the sauce. You might notice we are not using Kaffir lime leaves which are responsible for the distinctive earthy lime-lemon flavor in many traditional Thai Red Curry recipes, but this exotic ingredient can be very difficult to find, and I want you to be able to make this Thai Red Curry Chicken recipe AT ALL TIMES.  While there is no direct substitute for Kaffir lime leaves, it doesn’t mean other ingredients can’t be used to produce otherworldly flavors.  This Thai Red Curry Chicken achieves a wonderfully fresh citrus zing by playing up the fresh lime juice, bright lime zest and simmering the sauce with a bay leaf.  Done.

Finally, my authentically blasphemous key to gorgeously, thick, silky red curry coconut sauce is to whisk our quality coconut milk (I like Chakoah)  with a little cornstarch.  The end result is a rich, luscious red curry coconut sauce that is soooo creamy, so infused with flavor all cradling your tender chicken and crisp-tender vegetables. All in 30 minutes.  And your house will smell incredible.  This Thai Red Curry Chicken might be as good as it gets.

You will love this Thai Red Curry Recipe

• EASY WEEKNIGHT MEAL. The whole meal can be on your table in less than 30 minutes; the perfect addition to your weeknight dinner arsenal!
• UNPARALLELED FLAVOR. This Thai Red Curry recipe is boldly flavored with red curry paste then adeptly balanced between tangy lime juice, salty soy sauce, umami fish sauce, sweet brown sugar, punchy ginger, and aromatic garlic.
• CREAMY. It’s lusciously creamy due to the coconut milk mixed with my secret ingredient – a little cornstarch.
• FLAVOR INFUSED CHICKEN. The chicken is browned with the blooming red curry and then simmered in the sauce so it soaks up the symphony of flavor. The resulting Thai chicken curry tastes like it’s been simmering for hours but only takes minutes!
• VERSATILE. This recipe is easily adaptable to whatever veggies or protein you have on hand for the best clean-out the fridge dinner. You also choose your own spice level.
• PANTRY FRIENDLY. You don’t need to hunt down exotic ingredients like Thai basil or Birdseye chilies for this recipe! All of the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store and you probably have most of them on hand already.

Thai Chicken Curry ingredients

• Chicken: You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs for this recipe. I tend to use chicken breasts because they are leaner and emerge wonderfully juicy in the curry-coconut bath, but chicken thighs would also be scrumptious – totally your call.
• Red curry paste: This infuses the Thai chicken with a wonderfully complex spectrum of savory, spicy, deep earthy flavor from its broad range of ingredients such as red chiles, crushed garlic, ground coriander, peppercorns, lemongrass, shallots, ginger, lime leaves, cilantro – all combined for you. Note that some curry brands are spicier than others (Thai Kitchen is mild, Mae Ploy is spicy).
• Coconut milk: Please use full fat coconut milk for restaurant-style creamy, flavorful curry.
• Soy sauce: Use reduced sodium soy sauce so you can control the saltiness of the red Thai curry.
• Fish sauce**: **I promise fish sauce will not make your Thai chicken curry taste fishy – even though it smells fishy! It is necessary to infuse the dish with its nutty, rich, savory, salty flavor. If you’ve never used fish sauce before, it can be found in the Asian section of any grocery store.
• Lime juice: This adds freshness and awakens the rest of the flavors. You may use fresh or bottled lime juice. I will freeze lime juice in cubes so I always have some on hand.
• Brown sugar: This adds a hint of sweetness to balance the soy sauce and fish sauce.
• Asian sweet chili sauce**: **Instead of adding sugar to balance the umami rich ingredients, Asian sweet chili sauce adds both sweetness and spice, made with chilies, onion, garlic, brown sugar and fish sauce. You should be able to find it easily in the Asian aisle of your grocery store.
• Chili sauce: Use sriracha or your favorite Asian chili sauce at the end of cooking depending on how spicy you want your Thai chicken curry to be. I use Sambal Oelek with the green lid.
• Aromatics: Ginger adds a warm, spicy, sharp peppery taste and garlic adds a pungent, herby, warm aromatic flair. Add more or less to taste.
• Vegetables: I use zucchini and bell peppers in this recipe, but use your favs!

How to make Thai Chicken Curry

1. Cook chicken and bloom curry: Add chicken, onion and red curry paste to sizzling oil in a hot skillet. Cook just until chicken is no longer pink.
2. Sauté vegetables: Add bell peppers, zucchini, ginger and garlic and saute 1 minute.
3. Add coconut milk: Add half of the coconut milk. Mix remaining coconut milk with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and add to skillet along with all remaining ingredients (expect Garnishes).
4. Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the vegetables reach desired crisp-tenderness.
5. Garnish: Garnish with additional optional fresh basil, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice and Asian chili sauce to taste.

Tips for Making Thai Curry

• Bloom the curry. The key to unlocking the full flavor of red curry paste is to bloom the curry. This is essentially toasting the curry in oil which helps the flavor emerge or “bloom” – and it makes a HUGE difference.
• For the juiciest chicken: Don’t overcook the chicken, cooking just until opaque, it will finish cooking in the sauce.
• Don’t chop the vegetables too small. If the vegetables are too small, they will become mushy. We’re looking for crisp-tender, not tender crisp.
• Adjust the curry paste amount as needed. Thai Kitchen is a milder brand of curry paste while Mae Ploy is spicier. With that in mind, you can start with less, then add more to taste.
• Use full-fat coconut milk. Lite coconut milk can will not have nearly as much flavor or creaminess.
• Ginger pro tip. I like to freeze ginger so it’s always at my fingertips. To freeze ginger: grate it, spread it by the teaspoon or tablespoon on parchment paper and flash freeze until solid, about 1 hour. Transfer to an airtight container or plastic bag for up to 6 months. You can add frozen ginger directly to the curry.
• Powdered ginger and garlic swap. If you don’t have fresh ginger and garlic on hand and need to make this recipe, you may substitute with powders.
• Adjust to taste. If you feel your this thai red curry recipe is missing something, it is likely heat and/or acid. Wait until the end of cooking, then add chili sauce to taste, additional lime juice for more sour/citrus, sugar for sweeter/less tangy, more fish sauce for saltier etc.

Red Thai Curry recipe variations

• Use a different curry paste. Swap the red curry paste for green or yellow.
• Use shrimp. Instead of adding the shrimp with the curry paste, season the shrimp with the salt and pepper, then cook it separately with some oil just until opaque and cooked through. Remove the shrimp to a plate and add to the sauce at the end of cooking. Sauté the red curry paste without the shrimp in some oil to bloom the spices then proceed with the recipe.
• Other proteins. You can also swap the chicken for cubed pork tenderloin, fish or tofu. When cooking fish, season it with salt and pepper and cook separately.
• Make it vegetarian. Omit the chicken and use a vegan fish sauce. You can either use tofu, chickpeas, vegetables like mushrooms sweet potatoes, and cauliflower, etc. instead of the chicken.
• Alternate veggies. You can mix and match the veggies based on what’s in your fridge, your favorites, what’s in season or what’s on sale. Some tasty alternatives would be broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, bok choy, snow peas, etc.
• Add peanut butter. Stir a few tablespoons peanut butter at the end for a creamy, nutty finish.
• Add mango. Mangos and red curry are spectacular together.
• Add nuts. Cashews add a deeply satisfying, buttery crunch. Take care to purchase raw, unsalted nuts. To elevate your cashews, dry roast them in a skillet until toasted- YUM**!**
• Add coconut. Garnish with toasted sweetened coconut for extra coco-nutty yum.
• Use Birdseye chilies. You are welcome to substitute the Asian chili paste for minced Birdseye chilies. You will want to remove the seeds and finely chop.

Substitute for Red Curry Paste

This homemade red curry paste substitute can be used in recipes that call for red curry paste. Adjust the quantities to suit your taste preferences, and feel free to add a bit of water or oil if you need a smoother consistency. Keep in mind that this substitute won’t replicate the exact flavor profile of traditional red curry paste but will add depth and spiciness to your dishes.

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste for heat)
• ½ teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon ginger powder

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix the tomato paste, paprika, cayenne pepper, ground coriander, ground cumin, garlic powder, and ginger powder until well combined.
2. Stir in the soy sauce to achieve the desired consistency and flavor.

How to serve Thai Curry

Rice: This Thai red curry recipe is traditionally served with rice to mellow and absorb the flavorful sauce and offers a neutral textural component. I prefer jasmine rice or brown rice but any rice will work. Just pop the rice in your rice cooker for a hands’ off, easy side. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse your white rice until the water runs clear to achieve the fluffiest rice. You can also use microwave rice pouches if you’re making a serving for one or meal prep.

Low carb options: Cauliflower rice, quinoa, broccoli rice or a blend of brown rice and any of the aforementioned options. You can also use low carb noodles such as zoodles or spaghetti squash.

How to store Thai Chicken Curry

Thai Curry Chicken should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave or for larger portions, rewarm gently in a large skillet, stirring often.

Thai Red Curry FAQs

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Tools Used in This Recipe

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Teak Wood Cutting Board

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Citrus Zester

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Nonstick Fry Pan with Lid 12 in.

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Wooden Spatula Set

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Garlic Press

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Rice Cooker

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• 30  Minute Pantry Friendly Panang Curry
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• Thai Coconut Curry Chicken
• Thai Green Curry Chicken

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Thai Red Curry Chicken

This 30 MINUTE Thai Red Curry Chicken with Vegetables is wonderfully coconut creamy, bursting with layers of flavor, incredibly easy and all made in one pot!  Definitely a new favorite at our house and better than any restaurant!

Servings: 4 -6 servings

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Prep Time: 18 minutes mins

Cook Time: 12 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
• 1 pound chicken breasts sliced into 1/4” slices then 2” pieces**
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons red curry paste
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced then chopped into 2” pieces
• 1 orange bell pepper thinly sliced then chopped into 2” pieces
• 1 small zucchini, sliced
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 13.5 oz. can quality coconut milk (I like Chaokoh)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon Asian/Thai Sweet Chili Sauce (like Mae Ploy)
• 2 tablespoons less sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoon fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• sriracha to taste/Asian chili sauce (optional)

Garnish

• lime zest to taste
• fresh basil
• fresh cilantro
• fresh lime juice

Instructions

• Heat oil over medium high heat in large nonstick skillet. Add chicken, onion and red curry paste and cook just until chicken is no longer pink. Add bell peppers, zucchini, ginger and garlic and saute 1 minute.
• Add half of the coconut milk. Mix remaining coconut milk with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and add to skillet along with all remaining ingredients (expect Garnishes).
• Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the vegetables reach desired crisp-tenderness. If you would like a thinner sauce, thin with water (I don’t do this). Discard bay leaf.
• Garnish with additional optional fresh basil, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice and Sriracha to taste. Serve with rice.

Video

Notes

**Chicken is much easier to slice if partially frozen. It will thaw quickly once sliced. You can slice your chicken and red bell peppers in advance for even quicker meal prep.

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