Description
Delightful Thai-inspired basil chicken with coconut curry sauce blends aromatic herbs and creamy coconut milk for a flavor-packed meal. Spicy, complex layers of taste invite diners to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken breast halves (boneless, skinless)
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup cream
- 1 14 oz (396 g) can coconut milk (regular or light)
- 1 medium red onion (chopped)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 jalapeno pepper (seeded, finely chopped)
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 3–4 cups hot cooked rice
Instructions
- Preparation: Uniformly dice chicken breast and place in a mixing container, creating a robust spice blend of curry powder, salt, pepper, and chili powder to thoroughly coat chicken pieces.
- Marination: Allow chicken to rest in refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, enabling deep flavor infusion.
- Aromatics Sauté: Heat olive oil in a spacious nonstick skillet, introducing a fragrant medley of diced onion, fresh basil leaves, minced ginger, crushed garlic, and finely chopped jalapeño until onions become translucent.
- Protein Cooking: Add marinated chicken to skillet, stirring occasionally and cooking for 5-6 minutes until meat transitions from pink to golden white.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk coconut milk, cream, and cornstarch in a separate bowl to form a smooth, silky sauce base, then pour into skillet while continuously whisking to prevent lumps.
- Flavor Reduction: Simmer sauce for 5-10 minutes, allowing flavors to intensify and consistency to thicken perfectly.
- Serving: Plate the vibrant curry chicken over steamed rice, garnishing with additional fresh basil leaves for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Marinate with Precision: Let chicken sit in spices for at least one hour to ensure deep flavor penetration and tenderizing.
- Watch Sautéing Technique: Sauté aromatics until onions turn translucent to release maximum flavor without burning delicate ingredients.
- Sauce Smoothing Strategy: Whisk coconut milk mixture thoroughly to prevent cornstarch clumping and create a silky, lump-free sauce.
- Temperature Control Matters: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve golden chicken and allow sauce to reduce without scorching.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg