Thai Red Coconut Curry with Chicken

Is curry one of your favorites for Take-Out Friday? Here is a simple (and quick) spicy Thai red curry recipe with chicken! Red curry is a meal that is healthier and tastier than your local take-out.

When I am short on time, curry is one of the first things I think about making since it comes together in minutes but tastes like it has been cooking all day. Plus it's hard to beat those delicious Thai flavors.

The secret, of course, is in the curry paste. I am lucky to live in a large city with a substantial Thai population so I normally buy homemade curry pastes, but there are some pretty great supermarket options as well. And with a few simple tricks, you can elevate any store-bought curry paste into a rich, creamy, delicious dinner that is as good as any take-out curry.

All it takes is adding some extra garlic, ginger, shallots, brown sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce.

This recipe is meant to serve as a base recipe, so plan on adding in your favorite veggies. You can also substitute tofu or shrimp for the chicken. 

Let's look closer at this recipe! I have lots of tips and information that will help you make this perfectly the first time.

Key Ingredients and Easy Swaps

This healthy red curry recipe uses fresh and whole ingredients. There is a lot of room for changing it to suit your tastes. Here's a bit more information about what I used in this recipe:

• Red Curry Paste: I only used a few tablespoons in order to keep this tasting mild. If you like things spicy, use more. This recipe works with Thai green and yellow curry paste as well. Just make sure it is Thai curry.
• Garlic: Try to use fresh garlic cloves. Garlic powder can be used if you don't have fresh garlic. If you use garlic salt, don't use additional salt in this recipe.
• Ginger: I minced fresh ginger - it gave it a burst of spice!
• Shallot: If you don't have any shallots, you can use Vidalia onions, leeks, or green onions.
• Chicken: Either chicken breast or boneless, skinless chicken thighs will work perfectly in this recipe. You could also swap in tofu, tempeh, shrimp, or pork tenderloin.
• Coconut Milk: Use canned coconut milk, not the kind that comes in the carton. It will be thicker, richer, and have a lot more flavor.
• Brown Sugar: If you are on a low-carb diet, you can use a brown sugar substitute like Swerve or Stevia. You could also swap in honey or coconut sugar.
• Lime Juice: Fresh or jarred lime juice will add a citrus undertone to the curry. You can use lemon juice as a substitute if you don't have limes.
• Fish Sauce: If you don't have fish sauce, you can use soy sauce or liquid aminos (if you are gluten-free).

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this red curry recipe, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

What To Serve With Red Coconut Curry

This is a full-flavored Thai recipe, so serve it with other Thai or Asian-inspired recipes.

Start out your dinner with crunchy Thai chicken salad. It will also taste delicious on top of some brown rice or cauliflower rice if you are eating low-carb. It is such a delicious dinner that you can even just serve the chicken on top of some large leaf lettuce and eat it for lunch as a wrap!

Recipe Tips And Ideas

Follow these tips to make sure that this healthy red curry recipe turns out spicy and delicious every time!

• Use fresh ingredients when you can. As you saute the ginger, garlic, and shallots, you will smell the most amazing aromas. These aromatics will transfer to your recipe as flavor!
• Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. If you want it to be saltier, add more fish sauce. If you want it spicier, add more curry paste. Want it sweeter? Add more brown sugar.
• Curry powder will work as a replacement for curry paste.
• Garnish with some fresh lime slices - it really dresses up your plate and makes it look even more appetizing.