Description
An authentic Thai green curry made with just five core ingredients: green curry paste, coconut milk, chicken, Thai basil, and bamboo shoots. This recipe balances creamy, spicy, and savory flavors in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 tablespoons Thai Green Curry Paste (e.g., Maesri or Mae Ploy)
- 1 can (400ml) full-fat coconut milk
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- 1/2 cup bamboo shoots, sliced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or water
- 1–2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1–2 teaspoons palm sugar
- 1–2 red chilies, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, slice bamboo shoots, and wash Thai basil.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add curry paste and fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and darker green.
- Add the thick coconut cream from the top of the can (or the whole can) to the paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes until oil separates (‘cracking the coconut milk’).
- Add chicken pieces to the skillet and stir to coat. Cook for 5-7 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Pour in chicken stock and remaining coconut milk. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add fish sauce and palm sugar. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add bamboo shoots and simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove from heat. Toss in fresh Thai basil leaves and garnish with sliced red chilies. Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice.
Notes
For best flavor, ‘crack’ the coconut milk by frying the thick cream with the paste first. Balance the four flavors: sweet (palm sugar), salty (fish sauce), spicy (paste/chilies), and sour (lime juice if needed). Thai basil is preferred over sweet basil for its anise flavor. The curry tastes better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl with steamed
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: Thai green curry, authentic Thai food, coconut curry, chicken curry, easy dinner, weeknight meals, Thai basil, bamboo shoots