Description
Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce is a creamy, flavor-packed dish made with tender chicken, warm spices, and fresh basil simmered in rich coconut milk. Perfect for an easy yet impressive weeknight dinner served over rice.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ¾ cup chopped onion
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 jalapeño peppers, minced (seeds removed for less heat)
- 1 (14 oz) can coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
- 2–3 cups cooked rice (brown, white, or alternative)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix cumin, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black pepper, chili powder, salt, and turmeric.
- Place chicken in a large bowl, coat with spice mixture, and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onion and jalapeño for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute. Remove and set aside.
- Add remaining oil to the skillet. Cook half the chicken pieces until browned and cooked through. Remove and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Pour coconut milk into the skillet. Cook until slightly thickened and bubbling. Stir in Worcestershire sauce.
- Return chicken and onion mixture to the skillet. Add basil and ginger. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Serve over rice and spoon extra sauce on top. Garnish with additional basil if desired.
Notes
- Use full-fat coconut milk for a richer sauce.
- Adjust spice level by reducing or removing jalapeño seeds.
- Chicken thighs can be used for extra juiciness.
- Sauce thickens as it cooks—don’t worry if it looks thin at first.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg