Thai Chicken (or vegetable) Curry

 

This is SUPER simple and tastes very similar to curry dishes 

I've had at Thai restaurants.  Feel free to vary chicken/vegetable ratios to your preference! 

picture image from food network.com

Serves 8

In large soup pan sauce for 7 minutes:

1 small onion diced

2 TBS olive oil

Add and simmer for 8-10 minutes until vegetables are tender:

1 TBS fresh ginger, minced

1-2 TBS "Thai Kitchen" red curry paste

2 TBS white sugar (or honey)

2 tsp. lemongrass paste (or lemongrass oil 2 drops)

4-6 red potatoes (or 2 large russet), diced

3 large carrots, diced

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1 small head cauliflower, diced

2 14 oz cans Thai Coconut Milk

1 tsp salt

Add:

1 lb. cooked chicken, cubed

1 can water chestnuts

salt and additional curry paste to taste

-Serve over Jasmine Rice

-Garnish with fresh basil or cilantro if desired.  

-Garnish with peanuts or cashews if desired.  Lime wedges also are good.

-Optional:  Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup peanut butter to make more of a massaman curry flavor.

Massaman Curry using Trader Joe Thai Sauce

This recipe is AMAZINGLY close to the dish I love getting at Thai restaurants.  Using the bottled Trader Joe sauce makes this a super fast and easy dinner!  You can easily make this vegetarian by omitting the chicken or add extra vegetables by adding cauliflower.  I've noted the optional add-ins below.  This also makes great take-to-school lunch leftovers for the next day!

Picture from here.

Carmelize with 3 TBS olive oil for 5 minutes:
1 medium sweet vidalia onion, diced

Add and simmer 15 minutes:
1/2 head Cauliflower, cut into small florets (optional)
1-2 c. cooked chicken (optional)
2 large Russett Potatoes, peeled, cut in cubes
4 large carrots, sliced

2 stalks celery, sliced

1 red bell pepper, sliced
2 cans coconut milk

Add and stir in:
1 11 oz bottle Trader Joes Red Thai Curry sauce
3 TBS peanut butter
2 TBS honey
1 can water chestnuts (optional)
1/2 c. chopped peanuts (optional)

-Serve in a bowl over jasmine or short grain brown rice.  Garnish with fresh cilantro/limes/chopped peanuts/cashews if desired.


Instant Pot Version:  Carmelize onions on saute setting 5 minutes.  Add all other ingredients and pressure cook for 3-4 minutes.
Ketogenic Version (serve without rice and no honey)

Sesame Thai Noodles with Vegetables

• This is a great quick vegetarian dinner ready to go from start to finish in 20 minutes.  Pre-cut all your vegetables, then while you cook the pasta mix sauce.  My family loved this.  For those that like extra heat, you can garnish with red pepper.
• 
  
• Cook pasta according to directions:
• 12-14 ounces spaghetti, linguine, or angel hair pasta
• 
  
• Sauce (Make while pasta is cooking)
• 2 TBS  sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
• 2 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press
• 1 TBS minced fresh ginger (don't settle for dried!  This is a critical ingredient!)
• 5 TBS soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (or Tabasco)
• 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 2 TBS toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 
  

While pasta drains, toss the following into pasta pan and stir fry for 3 minutes on high:

• 4 green onions, sliced thin on diagonal
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper sliced into strips
• 1 c. pea pods (whole or cut in half)
• 
  
• Add cooked pasta to pan.  Stir in Sauce and add:
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• sesame seeds for garnish
• chopped peanuts for garnish (optional)