One Pan Coconut Chicken Curry

This one pan creamy coconut chicken curry is delicious, fast and flexible! Tender chicken and vegetables are coated in a luscious sauce that slightly sweet with a hint of spice. With my tips, this foolproof chicken curry is ready in under an hour!

Prep Time20

Cook Time35

Total Time55

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: servings

Calories: 254kcal

Author: Nancy Buchanan

Ingredients

3 Tbsp. vegetable or coconut oil
¾ lbs. skinless, boneless chicken cut into 1 inch cubes breasts or thighs
1 onion, thinly sliced
½ head cauliflower cut into small florets
1 inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and cut into thick slices
2 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
1 jalapeno seeded and chopped
1 roma tomato seeded and diced
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. ground cumin
½ Tablespoon ground coriander
1 tsp. Garam masala
½ tsp. salt
¼ cup water
⅓ cup frozen peas
1 13.5 oz. can coconut milk regular or light
¼ cup fresh cilantro optional
1 red jalapeno sliced, optional

Instructions

Add the garlic, ginger and chopped jalapeno to a mortar and bash with the pestle until a coarse paste forms. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, chop the garlic, ginger and jalapeno together until finely chopped.
In a large skillet with a lid, heat 3 Tablespoons of vegetable or coconut oil over medium high heat.
Add the onions and salt and saute for 3 - 5 minutes until the onions are soft and lightly browned.
Add the garlic, ginger and jalapeno paste and cook for 1 - 2 minutes.
Add the turmeric, cumin, coriander and garam masala. Stir, cooking for 1 minute until the spices are aromatic.
Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is just beginning to brown. It won't be cooked through so don't worry. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute.
Add the cauliflower and ¼ cup water, scraping up all the spices on the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium, and cover the pan Cook for 20 - 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Remove the lid from the pan and add the coconut milk and stir to combine. Add the peas and stir to combine. Cook for 3 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not allow the mixture to boil!
Remove the pan from the heat and taste, adding salt and/or cayenne pepper as needed.

Notes

Tips for Success:

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
There is no need to rinse the chicken. Just blot it dry before cutting into 1 inch chunks. I used skinless, boneless chicken breasts but thighs would work just as well!
It may seem strange to add the spices before any liquid is added but this is what gives curry dishes their lovely flavor and aroma. Don't skip this step!
In order to achieve a thick and creamy curry sauce, do not boil after adding the coconut milk. Boiling will cause the coconut milk to separate. If this happens, don't worry - the curry will still taste delicious but the sauce will look grainy!
If you don't have cauliflower, feel free to substitute potatoes, carrots, zucchini - almost any vegetable will work although I think cauliflower tastes the best in this dish.

Nutrition