Coconut & Tamarind Chicken
Easy
Coconut & Tamarind Chicken is a crowd pleaser! Tangy and flavourful tomato sauce with creamy coconut milk and the unusual but fruit flavour of tamarind paste with tender chicken thighs, this dish is perfect to make for guests or in place of a Sunday roast. It goes particularly well with a side of steamed green beans and our Moroccan couscous salad.
PREP IN
60 MIN
COOK IN
72 MIN
SERVE
4-5
Coconut & Tamarind Chicken
Easy
PREP IN
60 MIN
COOK IN
72 MIN
SERVE
4-5
Introduction
Coconut & Tamarind Chicken is a crowd pleaser! Tangy and flavourful tomato sauce with creamy coconut milk and the unusual but fruit flavour of tamarind paste with tender chicken thighs, this dish is perfect to make for guests or in place of a Sunday roast. It goes particularly well with a sid
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Ingredients
- 10 chicken thighs
- Juice from 2 limes
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp tamarind pulp
- Small (165ml) tin coconut milk
- 125ml coconut cream
- Small bunch coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh or dried curry leaves
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 2 onions, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Thumb-size piece fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tins chopped tomatoes
- 250ml chicken stock
- 1 tbsp muscovado sugar
FOR THE CHICKEN:
FOR THE SAUCE:
Method
- 1. Combine the chicken, lime juice, pepper, salt and turmeric together in a large bowl. Toss well so that all the chicken is coated in the marinade. Leave to chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
- 2. To make the sauce, heat the oil in a large pan, then add the mustard seeds and curry leaves, and fry for about 30 seconds. (If using dried curry leaves, only add them later with the tomato).
- 3. Add the onions, then cover the pot with a lid and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the onions are tender, stirring occasionally.
- 4. Remove the lid, increase heat to medium high, then add the garlic and ginger. Fry for about 1 minute. Stir in the paprika and cook for another 30 seconds.
- 5. Add the tins of tomato, the stock and sugar (and dried curry leaves, if using) and cook, uncovered for about 15-20 minutes until the sauce has reduced by one third.
- 6. While sauce is reducing heat a large deep skillet or Dutch oven pot on medium high heat with a drizzle of olive oil. Once oil it heated fry the chicken thighs until each is golden, 2-3 minutes each, do this in 2 batches as to not overcrowd the pot which will cause the chicken to boil rather than fry. Remove chicken from the pan and put aside. Pour out any excess oil from the pan, then add a splash of water to the pan and scrape the bottom of the pan to help deglaze it. Pour this water into the tomato sauce and stir to mix.
- 7. Place chicken back into the deep skillet or a Dutch oven then pour the sauce over. Cover with foil or lid and cook on medium heat for 35-45 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
- 8. Remove chicken pieces to a dish then cover in foil. Bring sauce to a simmer then stir in the tamarind, coconut milk and coconut cream. Check for seasoning, adding a little more sugar if needed, then add the chicken back into the pot.
- 9. Garnish with coriander and serve.
