# Thai Green Coconut Curry Chicken

> This Green Curry Chicken tastes like a green curry should - very aromatic and bursting with flavor. It's a creamy green curry that isn't as high in calories as some others I've tried due to the use of half coconut milk and half evaporated (a trick I learned in Thailand). Includes lots of healthy vegetables for an excellent chicken curry you'll want to serve both family and friends. ENJOY!

**Prep time:** 15 minutes
**Cook time:** 20 minutes
**Total time:** 35 minutes
**Yield:** Serves 4

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## Ingredients

### Main Ingredients
- 1 lb. (.460 kg.) skinless chicken breast/thigh, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped (large)
- 1 cup chopped asparagus OR green beans
- Handful cherry tomatoes
- Optional: 2-3 whole kaffir lime leaves (available fresh or frozen at Asian food stores)
- 3/4 can coconut milk
- 1/2 evaporated milk (or substitute regular milk or chicken stock)
- 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil OR sweet basil

### Green Curry Paste
- 1 stalk lemongrass, thinly sliced, OR 3 Tbsp. frozen prepared lemongrass (available at Asian food stores)
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 1-3 green chilies (if you can't find Thai green chilies, jalapeno work well)
- 1 cup chopped coriander/cilantro, leaves & stems
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic
- 1 thumb-size piece galangal OR ginger, sliced
- 3 Tbsp. fish sauce
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper (available in most supermarket spice aisles OR Asian food stores)
- 1 tsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. shrimp paste (available by the jar in Asian food stores)

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## Shopping List

### 🥩 Meat & Poultry
- [ ] 1 lb. skinless chicken breast or thigh

### 🥬 Produce
- [ ] 1 large green bell pepper
- [ ] 1 cup asparagus or green beans
- [ ] Handful cherry tomatoes
- [ ] 1 stalk lemongrass (or 3 Tbsp. frozen prepared)
- [ ] 1-3 green chilies (or jalapenos)
- [ ] 1 cup fresh coriander/cilantro
- [ ] 1 shallot
- [ ] 4-5 cloves garlic
- [ ] 1 thumb-size piece galangal or ginger
- [ ] 2 limes (for juice)
- [ ] 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil or sweet basil
- [ ] Optional: 2-3 kaffir lime leaves

### 🥫 Canned & Packaged
- [ ] 1 can coconut milk (using 3/4 can + 1/4 can)
- [ ] 1/2 cup evaporated milk (or regular milk/chicken stock)

### 🧂 Spices & Condiments
- [ ] Fish sauce (need 3 Tbsp.)
- [ ] Ground cumin (need 1/2 tsp.)
- [ ] Ground coriander (need 1/2 tsp.)
- [ ] Ground white pepper (need 1/2 tsp.)
- [ ] Brown sugar (need 1 tsp.)
- [ ] Shrimp paste (need 1 tsp.)

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## Instructions

1. **Make green curry paste.** Place green curry paste ingredients in a food processor or blender and blitz to create a fragrant green curry paste/sauce (add more coconut milk if needed to help blend ingredients). **To make sauce by hand:** Mince and stir all sauce ingredients together in a bowl, OR use a pestle & mortar to mash dry ingredients followed by liquid ingredients. Set aside.

2. **Heat pan and cook paste.** Place a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add a little oil and swirl around, then add your green curry paste. Stir-fry 1 minute to release the fragrance.

3. **Cook the chicken.** Add the chicken. Stir-fry until well saturated with sauce.

4. **Add liquids.** Add 1/2 can evaporated milk, plus the lime leaves (if using). Stir and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer chicken 5-6 minutes.

5. **Add vegetables.** Add 1/3 to 1/2 can coconut milk, plus the green vegetables (except basil) and continue simmering another 5-4 minutes.

6. **Add tomatoes.** Add the cherry tomatoes and simmer 2-3 more minutes. Avoid over-cooking - you want the tomatoes to keep their shape and the green vegetables to retain some of their crispness.

7. **Season to taste.** Remove curry from heat and taste-test it for salt and spice. If not salty or flavorful enough, add 1 more Tbsp. fish sauce. If too salty for your taste, add another squeeze of lime juice. If too spicy, OR if you'd like more sauce, add what is remaining of your can of coconut milk. If you'd like it sweeter, add a little more sugar.

8. **Serve.** Serve directly out of the wok, or transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle over the fresh basil (slice larger leaves into shreds). Sliced red chili can also be added for garnish.

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## Serving Ideas

- Serve over jasmine rice or brown rice
- Pair with rice noodles
- Serve with naan bread
- Garnish with fresh basil and sliced red chili
- Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice before serving

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## Notes

- **Author:** Darlene Schmidt - About.com Guide
- **Course:** Main Course
- **Cuisine:** Thai
- Handwritten note mentions: "Gallon Ziploc Bags - Dishwash detergent" and "1 tsp grated lime zest"
- For a vegetarian/vegan version, see Vegetarian Thai Green Curry recipe
- Can make curry paste ahead and freeze for future use
- Adjust spice level by adding more or fewer green chilies
- Fresh kaffir lime leaves add authentic flavor but are optional