Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice Noodles Recipe (2024)

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By Shawn Williams

4.88 from 8 votes

Nov 02, 2019, Updated Feb 21, 2024

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Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice Noodles Recipe (2)

I’m really into coconut curry chicken lately. It’s a really delicious Thai-inspired dish usually made from curry paste, coconut milk, meat, seafood, vegetables, and fresh herbs. My particular recipe is inspired by Honeygrow’s red curry rice noodles and chicken. It’s essentially a creamy stir-fried noodle dish with chicken and veggies. It’s warm, mildly spicy, and out-of-this-world good.

My coconut curry chicken recipe consists of stir-fried chicken, broccoli, bean sprouts, and shredded carrots. It’s all simmered together in a wok with rice noodles and a creamy, red curry sauce with a little kick. Don’t forget to garnish with fresh cilantro!

Coconut is truly a versatile ingredient. While the milk is perfect for dairy free dishes, the shreds make a great crunchy coating on some air fryer shrimp or plump cod filets. Of course it goes without saying you can cool off with a piña colada!

Table of Contents

  • What Are Rice Noodles?
  • How to Make Thai Coconut Curry Sauce
  • Finding Thai Ingredients in the Grocery Store?
  • More Recipes You’ll Love
  • Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Noodles Recipe

What Are Rice Noodles?

Rice noodles are Thai noodles made of rice flour. They’re similar to traditional pasta but whiter in color and more delicate. They fully cook in 4-5 minutes in boiling water. When using rice noodles in stir-fry, you want to be careful not to overcook the noodles as they will continue to soften as they’re cooked within the stir-fry. You can use regular pasta for this recipe if you prefer, it’s just less authentic.

Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice Noodles Recipe (3)

How to Make Thai Coconut Curry Sauce

My coconut curry sauce is really easy to make. It’s comprised of coconut milk, red curry paste (not curry powder, this is different), garlic, and a little sriracha. Simmer the coconut milk and red curry paste in a pan for about 5-7 minutes until thickened and you’re ready to pair with meats, veggies, and herbs. It’s really that simple.

Finding Thai Ingredients in the Grocery Store?

As someone who initially struggled to find these items, here are a few tips:

Rice noodles will usually be in the Asian food aisle. You may see different styles of rice noodles such as brown rice noodles or thinner vermicelli rice noodles. The best Thai rice noodles are usually a little thicker and resemble linguine (they also may be called linguine). These are what you want if you can find them.

Red curry paste can also be found in the Asian aisle and should be close to the rice noodles. It will typically be with the other Thai ingredients and comes in a small can or jar. It resembles tomato paste.

Important Note on Coconut Milk

Canned coconut milk will most likely be in the baking aisle and not the dairy aisle. You don’t want the boxed coconut milk in the dairy aisle—boxed coconut milk is much more diluted with water and won’t be creamy enough for this recipe.

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Chicken and Egg Ramen Bowls Recipe

Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Wings Recipe

Shrimp Stir Fry with Ramen Noodles

Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice Noodles Recipe (8)
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Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Noodles Recipe

By: Shawn Williams

Servings: 4

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Save

Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice Noodles Recipe (9)

Coconut curry chicken and rice noodles is a creamy stir-fried noodle dish with chicken, broccoli, and cilantro. It’s warm, spicy, and out-of-this-world good.

Ingredients

  • 14- ounce can, coconut milk
  • 2-3 cups 16 ounces chicken, diced into bite-size chunks (chicken thighs or breast)
  • 8-12 ounces rice noodles, I used linguine
  • 2-3 cups broccoli, cut into florets
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 cup bean sprouts
  • 1/2 cup diced pineapple, optional
  • 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1-2 teaspoons sriracha *see note below*
  • cilantro leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Simmer rice noodles for about 5 minutes. Strain and set aside.

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or large pan on medium-high heat. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Add broccoli, pineapple, carrots, sprouts, soy sauce, and oil. Simmer until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer all contents to a bowl and set aside.

  • Add coconut milk, red curry paste, garlic, and sriracha to the now empty wok or pan. Stir and boil for 5-7 minutes or until slightly reduced.

  • Add rice noodles first, toss, and then return chicken and veggies. Toss in the coconut curry sauce until fully mixed together and well coated. Saute for 2-3 minutes until hot.

  • Serve topped with fresh cilantro, to taste.

Notes

1 teaspoon is mildly spicy. Red coconut curry in general has a very suble spice to it that is not overly hot. For a noticeable kick, I would opt for 2 teaspoons sriracha. If you aren’t into spicy, add none at all. The coconut curry paste is very mild in terms of heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 424kcalCarbohydrates: 28.2gProtein: 38.8gFat: 17.4gSaturated Fat: 11.1gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 941mgFiber: 4.2gSugar: 6.1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Thai

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice Noodles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to spice up curry chicken? ›

Here are some options:
  1. Chili flakes or powder: Sprinkle chili flakes or powder directly into the curry and stir well. ...
  2. Fresh chili peppers: Finely chop fresh chili peppers like jalapenos, serranos, or Thai bird's eye chilies, and add them to the curry. ...
  3. Hot sauce or chili paste: Stir in a few teaspo.
Jan 18, 2022

What if my curry isn't spicy enough? ›

What if your curry isn't spicy enough? Add a bit of cayenne, dried chile powder, or fresh chiles to boost the heat. If your curry is too hot, add coconut milk or yogurt to your sauce.

How do you thicken coconut milk curry? ›

You can use cornstarch or all-purpose flour as a thickening agent. Dissolve some cornstarch or cornflour in a bowl with cold water to make a slurry. Then add the slurry to the coconut milk and boil until it reaches your desired consistency.

How to make curry creamier? ›

How to Thicken Curry
  1. Add dairy. Many curry sauces have a creamy texture, so try adding more dairy—like Greek yogurt, heavy cream, or a thick non-dairy ingredient like coconut cream—to thicken a watery curry sauce.
  2. Add ground nuts. ...
  3. Add lentils. ...
  4. Add peanut butter. ...
  5. Add a tomato product. ...
  6. Start with a roux. ...
  7. Use a slurry.
Jan 20, 2022

What are the secret ingredients to a good curry? ›

Indian chef Maunika Gowardhan suggests using tomato purée, coconut milk or yoghurt as natural thickening agents to achieve the perfect consistency. Adding ground nuts such as almonds or peanuts can also be a great way to ensure your curry is a knockout.

What spices make curry spicy? ›

Curries derive their spice from peppers—fresh, dried, blended in a paste or in powdered form—so adding extra chili peppers is an easy way to make your curry spicier. If you make your own curry or garam masala spice blend, add extra cayenne pepper to the mix.

Does curry get hotter the longer you cook it? ›

The more you cook it the more the intensity infused into the dish. Especially spices like chilli(any variety, and any form, whole or powder) and black pepper make the dish spicier the longer they stay in the dish, especially in water based dishes like curry or sauce.

Does lemon juice make curry less spicy? ›

Lemon, lime or vinegar

Adding a squeeze of citrus, a splash of vinegar or some salt may also work (for both coconut-based and other curries like this goat curry) as they will balance out the flavour.

Does curry get better the longer you cook it? ›

Let it cook for as long as possible. Simmering a curry allows time for the flavours to infuse; a long, slow simmering time generally produces the best curry.

How long should a curry simmer for? ›

Bring to the boil, lower to a simmer and cook on a gentle heat uncovered for 25-30 mins or until rich and slightly reduced.

What can I add to curry to make it spicier? ›

Hot Tip #4 (Spicy) Add a real kick to your curry by tempering mustard seeds, crushed red chillies, and curry leaves. Add this mixture to your dish at the very end to create a sizzle in your sauce. These spices are guaranteed to leave you feeling hot, hot, hot!

Do you add water to coconut milk for curry? ›

Step 3Add coconut milk and water and bring to a simmer. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. If sauce is too thick, add more water, a tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

What kind of cream is used in curry? ›

Heavy cream is commonly used to make gravies rich and creamy. Some of our most beloved dishes, such as butter chicken, shahi paneer, malai kofta, korma, etc., all require the use of heavy cream. After all, it's what gives these dishes their impeccable taste. Without it, they'll just taste like ordinary curry.

Can I add milk instead of cream to curry? ›

Regular Milk: Regular milk, especially in the form of cream or yogurt, is often used in curries from regions like North India. It can add a creamy texture and mild flavor to the dish. Creamy curries like butter chicken or paneer tikka masala often use milk or cream to achieve their characteristic richness.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

What can I add to curry to make it tastier? ›

Umami is one of the basic five tastes and is often described as a meaty, savoury deliciousness that deepens a dish's flavour. Natural foods that peak umami taste receptors include tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and roasted spice. Add umami ingredients sparingly to your curry dish for a deepened and elevated flavour.

What adds flavor to curry? ›

A curry mix has a warm, robust spicy taste as a result of combining roasted and grounded coriander seeds, turmeric, cumin and chili peppers. Other spices commonly found within the blend are fenugreek, clove, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg or ginger.

How to make curry taste like restaurant? ›

Simple suggestions for restaurant good quality curries:
  1. Fry your onions till they are golden brown.
  2. Fry your spices but don't burn them. ...
  3. Use good quality spices. ...
  4. Seasoning. ...
  5. Use fatty yoghurt (greek style works) in curries to make them richer. ...
  6. Patience. ...
  7. Use a neutral vegetable oil. ...
  8. Experiment.
Jun 24, 2018

What gives curry chicken its flavor? ›

Cumin, coriander, bay leaf, cinnamon, curry leaves, pepper, and fenugreek seed are just a few of the spices you can experiment with. Acid ingredients like tomatoes, lemon, yogurt or tamarind can be used to give taste and acidity to the dish.

References

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