Name: Thai Chicken Curry
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1.5" cubes; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 inch ginger knob, minced; 1 tbsp avocado oil; 14 oz can coconut milk, full fat; 2 tbsp red curry paste; 3 oz tomato paste, low sodium; 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey; 5 kaffir lime leaves or basil leaves; 1/2 tsp salt + more; Ground black pepper, to taste; Cilantro and lime, for garnish (optional)

Authentic but basic Thai chicken curry in 25 minutes. I have eaten a fair share of curries at Canadian restaurants and I can assure you don’t have to leave the house to enjoy a good curry served over the most perfect Instant Pot brown rice.

This silky smooth Thai coconut chicken curry with warm spices and a bit of a kick is so simple to make at home. And healthy with a taste of most indulgent comfort food!

All my 3 boys raved about it for days!

Ingredients You Can Find Anywhere:

I promise no specialty Asian stores but you can if you like to keep busy.:)

Chicken breasts or thighs
Canned coconut milk
Curry paste
Tomato paste (forgot to photograph)
Ginger and garlic
Salt and pepper

Best Coconut Milk for Thai Coconut Chicken Curry:

Not all canned coconut milk is the same. Trust me! The biggest challenge is not smooth with small lumps coconut milk.

Make the best Thai chicken curry with coconut milk that is:

Full fat and not low fat (diluted with water) coconut milk. Healthy fats are good for us (Harvard University).
Not from cheap brands found in Asian section (sorry!). They contain a lot of preservatives and chemicals.
Smooth creamy consistency without small lumps.
In BPA free cans and organic are a bonus.
From brands that I tried and like are 365, Thai kitchen, Trader Joe’s and Compliments.

Tip: It is normal to see cream on top and liquid on a bottom when you open the can during colder months. Add everything to the pan and coconut milk will melt.

Kaffir Lime Leaves Substitution:

Kaffir lime leaves are a specialty item from Asian supermarket. They add citrus flavor and sweetness. But you don’t need them and can easily replace with fresh basil at the end.

And even if you don’t have basil, you can still make this OMG good Thai red chicken curry.

And I skipped fresh lemongrass on purpose. To see if curry turns out tasty. And it did! If I never have it on hand, neither do you. But you can add it with garlic and ginger, if you are familiar how to bruise and chop it. It is a nice bonus.

How Much and Which Curry Paste?

For any Thai cooking, I usually use curry paste in a small glass jar. Not powder. And usually it ends up being Thai kitchen brand. You can find it in any grocery store. Even little grocery store on my island carries it.:)

A million $ question. How much?

Very mild curry – 1 tbsp.
Mild-medium curry aka kid friendly but still with a kick – 2 tbsp (I usually add this much).
Spicy curry – 4 tbsp.

Tip: Substitute with yellow or green curry paste if that’s what you have on hand. No need to drive to the store.

How to Make Thai Chicken Curry

Saute garlic and ginger for 30 seconds stirring constantly. It burns fast.
Add cubed chicken and cook for 5 minutes. Doesn’t have to be cooked through.
Add coconut milk, curry paste, tomato paste, maple syrup, kaffir lime leaves (if using), salt and pepper and cook uncovered for 15 minutes.
Garnish with fresh basil or cilantro, a bit of lime juice and serve over brown rice.

OMG, just look at this 25 minute Thai coconut chicken curry! Who needs takeout?!

Leftover Tomato Paste?

You want to transfer leftover tomato paste to a glass jar. Sitting in a metal jar acidic tomatoes will oxidize. Refrigerate for up to 10 days and add to borscht or butter chicken. In addition to a 6 oz can that recipes call for. It’s OK to add a bit more.:)

More Curry Recipes to Try:

Chicken curry with coconut milk bulked up with lots of cauliflower for a 30 minute dinner!
Thai shrimp curry with butternut squash – another mind blowing quick dinner with tons of veggies.
Eggplant vindaloo curry – vegan and meatless curry even carnivores will enjoy.
Instant Pot butter chicken approved as “authentic” by many-many readers!