Bright & Herby Lemongrass Chicken Green Curry

Found on: ambitiouskitchen.com

Bright and herby lemongrass chicken green curry filled with beautiful vegetables and packed with protein. This flavorful one pot green chicken curry has a wonderful vibrance from fresh lemongrass and takes just 30 minutes to make for the perfect cozy weeknight meal.

Category
Yields1 Serving
For the chicken:
 1 tbsp virgin coconut oil (or sub extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil)
 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
 ½ tsp kosher salt
 Freshly ground black pepper
For the curry:
 1 tbsp virgin coconut oil (or sub extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil)
 2 stalks of fresh lemongrass
 4 scallions, sliced
 2 tbsp green curry paste (I use Thai Kitchen)
 3 garlic cloves, minced
 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
 1 tbsp grated fresh turmeric (or sub 1 teaspoon ground turmeric)
 15 oz can full-fat coconut milk
 ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (or sub water)
 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, to taste
 ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more as needed
 1 small to medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
 1 large red bell pepper, diced into ½ inch pieces
 ¾ cup frozen peas (or sub 1 cups small cauliflower florets or diced zucchini)
 1 tbsp fish sauce
 Juice of 1 lime
Serving and garnish:
 Cooked brown rice or white rice or cooked rice noodles
 ½ cup chopped mix of fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, basil, and/or Thai basil)
 ¼ cup sliced scallions (green part only)
 Optional: Toasted coconut flakes/chips (or sub peanuts/cashews for crunch!)
1

Prepare the lemongrass: Remove the outer leaves of the lemongrass, then cut the top third off and discard. Use a rolling pin or pot to roll or slightly smash the lemongrass to release its fragrance and flavor (similar to smashing a garlic clove). Cut off the root and discard, then mince the lemongrass.

2

Cook the chicken: In a large pot, warm the coconut oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add in the cubed chicken, season with salt and pepper and sear on all sides until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer chicken to a bowl and keep heat in the pot. The chicken will finish cooking in the curry later so do not worry if it isn't all the way cooked through.

3

In the same pot, add another tablespoon of coconut oil, then the lemongrass and scallions and sauté, stirring frequently, until the scallions begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the curry paste, garlic, ginger, and turmeric; cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute to release the flavors.

4

Whisk in coconut milk, chicken broth, soy sauce, and salt. Stir well to combine. Add the chicken, sweet potatoes, bell pepper and peas and bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked through and sweet potatoes are tender, about 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce, then taste and add more salt, if necessary. Stir in the lime juice.

5

Garnish and serve: Scoop rice or rice noodles into each bowl, ladle the curry over, and top with LOTS of fresh herbs, scallions, and toasted coconut flakes (or some peanuts). Serve immediately and enjoy!

Ingredients

For the chicken:
 1 tbsp virgin coconut oil (or sub extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil)
 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
 ½ tsp kosher salt
 Freshly ground black pepper
For the curry:
 1 tbsp virgin coconut oil (or sub extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil)
 2 stalks of fresh lemongrass
 4 scallions, sliced
 2 tbsp green curry paste (I use Thai Kitchen)
 3 garlic cloves, minced
 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
 1 tbsp grated fresh turmeric (or sub 1 teaspoon ground turmeric)
 15 oz can full-fat coconut milk
 ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (or sub water)
 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, to taste
 ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more as needed
 1 small to medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
 1 large red bell pepper, diced into ½ inch pieces
 ¾ cup frozen peas (or sub 1 cups small cauliflower florets or diced zucchini)
 1 tbsp fish sauce
 Juice of 1 lime
Serving and garnish:
 Cooked brown rice or white rice or cooked rice noodles
 ½ cup chopped mix of fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, basil, and/or Thai basil)
 ¼ cup sliced scallions (green part only)
 Optional: Toasted coconut flakes/chips (or sub peanuts/cashews for crunch!)

Directions

1

Prepare the lemongrass: Remove the outer leaves of the lemongrass, then cut the top third off and discard. Use a rolling pin or pot to roll or slightly smash the lemongrass to release its fragrance and flavor (similar to smashing a garlic clove). Cut off the root and discard, then mince the lemongrass.

2

Cook the chicken: In a large pot, warm the coconut oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add in the cubed chicken, season with salt and pepper and sear on all sides until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer chicken to a bowl and keep heat in the pot. The chicken will finish cooking in the curry later so do not worry if it isn't all the way cooked through.

3

In the same pot, add another tablespoon of coconut oil, then the lemongrass and scallions and sauté, stirring frequently, until the scallions begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the curry paste, garlic, ginger, and turmeric; cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute to release the flavors.

4

Whisk in coconut milk, chicken broth, soy sauce, and salt. Stir well to combine. Add the chicken, sweet potatoes, bell pepper and peas and bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked through and sweet potatoes are tender, about 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce, then taste and add more salt, if necessary. Stir in the lime juice.

5

Garnish and serve: Scoop rice or rice noodles into each bowl, ladle the curry over, and top with LOTS of fresh herbs, scallions, and toasted coconut flakes (or some peanuts). Serve immediately and enjoy!

Bright & Herby Lemongrass Chicken Green Curry