Name: The ultimate makeover: Thai green chicken curry
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 20g bunch coriander stalks and leaves separated; 2 shallots finely chopped; 1 lemongrass finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves finely chopped; 1cm piece fresh root ginger finely chopped; 3 small hot green chillies finely chopped (include the seeds); 1 larger, mild-to-medium green chilli finely chopped (include the seeds); small handful basil leaves; ½ tsp each ground cumin and coriander; ¼ tsp black pepper; 1 tsp crumbled freeze-dried kaffir lime leaves; 1 tbsp lime juice; 1 tsp sunflower oil; 1 tbsp sunflower oil; 400ml/14fl oz can reduced-fat coconut milk; 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (450g/1lb total weight), cut into bite-size pieces; 2 tsp fish sauce; ½ tsp granulated palm or light muscovado sugar; 4 freeze-dried lime leaves; 100g mange tout thinly sliced lengthways; 100g green beans halved lengthways; 2 spring onions finely shredded; 250g Thai fragrant rice cooked; lime wedges

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The ultimate makeover: Thai green chicken curry

The ultimate makeover: Thai green chicken curry

Angela Nilsen

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Serves 4

Easy

Prep: 35 mins

Cook: 20 mins

A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.24 ratingsRate

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This normally super-rich curry can be turned into one that’s healthier but still
creamy

Freezable (Freezable without extra veg and rice)

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

For the curry paste

20g bunch coriander

stalks and leaves separated
2 shallots

finely chopped
1 lemongrass

finely chopped
2 garlic cloves

finely chopped
1cm piece fresh root ginger

finely chopped
3 small hot green chillies

finely chopped (include the seeds)
1 larger, mild-to-medium green chilli

finely chopped (include the seeds)
small handful basil leaves
½ tsp each ground cumin and coriander
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tsp crumbled freeze-dried kaffir lime leaves
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp sunflower oil

For the curry

1 tbsp sunflower oil
400ml/14fl oz can reduced-fat coconut milk
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

(450g/1lb total weight), cut into bite-size pieces
2 tsp fish sauce
½ tsp granulated palm or light muscovado sugar
4 freeze-dried lime leaves
100g mange tout

thinly sliced lengthways
100g green beans

halved lengthways

To serve

2 spring onions

finely shredded
250g Thai fragrant rice

cooked
lime

wedges

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Nutrition: per serving

kcal487
fat16g
saturates10g
carbs55g
sugars4g
fibre2g
protein35g
salt0.96g

low

Method

step 1

For the curry paste, finely chop the coriander stalks and put them into a mini food blender or small food processor with the shallots, lemongrass, garlic and ginger. Pulse until as smooth as you can get it. Add the chillies, basil, threequarters of the coriander leaves, the ground cumin, coriander, pepper, lime leaves and lime juice, then pulse again. Mix in the oil and set aside. You will only be using half of this paste, the rest can be chilled for a couple of days, or frozen for up to a month.
step 2

For the curry, heat the oil in a non-stick wok or deep sauté pan, stir in half the curry paste, then stir-fry for 1 min. Shake the coconut milk in its can, open, then pour two-thirds into the pan. Let it bubble away for 4-5 mins, stirring now and then, until reduced and thickened slightly.
step 3

Tip in the chicken, then stir-fry for 1-2 mins until no longer pink. Stir in the fish sauce and sugar, then pour in the rest of the coconut milk to give a thinnish, creamy sauce. Lower the heat, add the lime leaves, then simmer for 5 mins to gently finish cooking the chicken. Can be frozen at this point for up to 1 month.
step 4

While the chicken simmers, steam the mangetout and beans for a couple of mins. Serve the curry in bowls with some of the veg piled on top (serve the rest separately) along with the spring onions and the rest of the coriander leaves. Serve with a bowl of Thai fragrant rice and lime wedges for squeezing over.

RECIPE TIPS

MAKING IT HEALTHIER

My version contains 487 kcals and 16g fat (10g sat fat), 4g sugar and 0.96g salt. Here’s how I did it: Reduced the fat -replaced the coconut cream with reduced-fat coconut milk, cooking it to thicken and enrich. Reduced the amount of oil. Reduced salt and sugar - made own curry paste to boost flavour and eliminate need for salt, as well as the need for using as much fish sauce and sugar.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, July 2009

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A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.24 ratings

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