Its Secret Recipe Club time again and I was pleased as punch when I received my May assignment of Foodness Gracious. I met Gerry at an earlier reveal so was familiar with his blog when I got the email from Group C leader, Angie, that assigned me his site. I have visited his blog many times and bookmarked several recipes so making my choice was an easy one. Gerry, originally from Scotland, lives in Southern California with his wife and two very cute kids and a mischievous Lab named Daisy. Gerry’s enthusiasm and love for cooking show through in all his posts whether he is preparing a simple meal or a dish for a special occasion.
Thai Coconut Chicken with Coconut Rice
I selected this recipe for Thai Coconut Chicken because we love Thai food at my house. I have several recipes I use often but what appealed to me about Gerry’s recipe are (1) I thought it looked delicious, (2) it doesn’t have a list of 2 dozen ingredients that so many Asian recipes call for, and (3) I can put it together quickly when I’m short on time. The leftovers reheat nicely if you should happen to have any. I saved out just enough for my lunch the next day, but ordinarily there isn’t a speck left. I learned a new technique from Gerry’s instruction to add bruised lemon grass, chunks of peeled ginger and chilies to the coconut milk/broth combination and let it steep for a few minutes. I let mine simmer for about 30 minutes and the infused flavors were delicious.
Almost any vegetables can be added to this recipe and I had a few scallions and a red pepper half, so in they went. I sauteed them along with the mushrooms in a little olive oil for 3-4 minutes, then added them to the chicken and broth mixture. I added this step to the recipe but think that next time I will omit it as unnecessary. I also made coconut rice (recipe to follow) but it really wasn’t necessary because the chicken mixture is so flavorful.
- 4 cups coconut milk, (2 cans)
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 pound chicken breast cut into strips
- 3 stalks lemongrass
- 10 thin slices fresh ginger
- 2 minced fresh chile's if you like it hot (I used just 1)
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms (I used cremini)
- ½ cup scallions sliced into 1 inch pieces
- ½ cup red pepper, diced
- 3 tablespoons Thai fish sauce
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar (I used brown sugar)
- salt and pepper
- chopped cilantro to garnish.
- Combine coconut milk and stock and bring to a boil, add chicken and cook for 10 minutes. Take out chicken and set aside.
- Add smashed lemongrass, ginger and chile's to milk and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove these 3 last ingredients and add chicken back to milk.
- In a medium skillet saute mushrooms, scallions and diced red pepper in 1 tablespoon olive oil until barely tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add to the milk and chicken mixture. Add fish sauce, lime juice and sugar and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, adjust taste with more lime or fish sauce and spoon into bowls. Garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve with rice.
Have you ever wondered why you don’t see chop sticks in Thai restaurants. In Thailand it’s customary to use spoons and forks, and knives are conspicuously absent from the table. Most Thai food is already bite sized in the cooking, and its unusual to have to cut anything into pieces, so they omit the knife in most cases. Occasionally chopsticks are used for bowls of rice or noodles. Customarily the spoon is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. The fork never goes into the mouth. It is used to push food onto the spoon which is the only utensil that is put into one’s mouth. As for sticky rice, the custom is to eat it with the fingers. Mangoes and sticky rice are my favorite Thai dessert, but I’ll stick to a fork and spoon.
Delish! Thanks for sharing this dish with me. I loved it!
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..{Secret Recipe Club} French Butter Cookies
This is so pretty and it sounds delicious. We don’t eat much Thai food here, but I will be trying this!
Thanks for the awesome post! Your pictures are amazing and I’m glad you chose something you already love. I also am a Thai curry freak, in fact seeing this again makes me wonder for tonight’s dinner 😉
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious recently posted..Rhubarb and Ginger Creme Brulee….
We had Gerry’s blog last month – isn’t it awesome! This particular recipe looks and sounds fantastic. Will be making it soon for sure! Nice post!
Chris and Amy recently posted..Apple, Raisin and Celery Seed Slaw (Secret Recipe Club)
There are so many tempting recipes on Gerry’s blog that it was hard to choose. I have several more bookmarked that I can’t wait to try.
Cathy recently posted..Thai Coconut Chicken for the Secret Recipe Club
All the flavors we love in this dish. Thanks so much for posting it.
Best,
Bonnie
YAY – I have all the ingredients! Great choice!!!
This sounds delicious–I love anything Thai! Great SRC choice!
Mindy recently posted..Pickled Carrots and Radishes [Secret Recipe Club]
Stopping over from SRC Group C….can’t wait to check out your blog!! This dish looks incredible!
Denise @ Creative Kitchen recently posted..Zucchini Muffins ~ Secret Recipe Club
Oh, Cathy… here I am, with a stomach that is grumbling for lunch. This is making me seriously long to eat this. I love Thai food, and in reading this recipe, I have all the ingredients– except for the lemon grass. I LOVE lemongrass! That was really interesting to read about the chopsticks vs. fork and spoon. I’ll try and remember that, next time I go out to eat Thai food. LOVE Thai flavors!
A perfect selection for SRC! This sounds as though it was super flavorful. We will have to make it at our house.
Kate recently posted..Tzatziki – Yogurt and Cucumber Dip
Something I have always wanted to make; yours looks wonderful. i just have to try this version; looks so sot good.
Rita
Cathy, this looks delish! I love Thai and am cooking more and more this type of Asian cuisine – the flavors are so bright and fresh! Your curry sounds wonderful and pictures are awesome, very enticing!
The Café Sucré Farine recently posted..Thai Noodle Salad w/ Coconut Milk-Poached Chicken, Avocado, Bok Choy & Honey-Ginger Dressing
Oh, this must taste amazing, Cathy! Great SRC pick…lucky you getting Gerry. I go to his blog to drool over his caramels 🙂
Liz recently posted..Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake….Secret Recipe Club~
This looks amazing! I am pinning to try. Great pick for SRC! I love reveal days.
sara recently posted..Bananas Foster Souffle
Oh this is soooo right up my alley. And now I know what I’ll be making this weekend. So glad to be in the SRC club and to meet great foodie bloggers like you!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
alex @ ma what’s for dinner recently posted..Delicious Dessert Breakfast Sangie
Oh my this sounds great I love anything Thai
Oh my goodness this looks delicious! I do love anything Thai. thanks for the lesson on proper utensil usage. But I’ll probably eat my favorite mango and sticky rice dessert with a spoon–I do have to refrain from licking the plate!
Great SRC pick.
cindy recently posted..Thai Chicken Pizza–SRC
I really need to make this – it looks amazing!
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos recently posted..Secret Recipe Club: Sesame Ginger Chicken
Oh does this look delicious! Love anything with coconut milk and Thai seasonings.
Marilyn recently posted..One Word
I bought a Thai pepper plant and when I get some peppers I am going to make this, we love Thai food.
Rhonda recently posted..Spicy Noodle Bowl-SRC Reveal
Watch out world…this looks delicious!
I like that it’s easy enough and the ingredients aren’t difficult to find! It looks delicious, we love Thai.
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook recently posted..Crispy Potatoes
Oh Cathy… this looks wonderful! Bookmarked! xoxo
Pam recently posted..Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Maple-Cinnamon Glaze
What a lovely presentation Cathy. I bet this might be good with seafood too.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Mediterranean Tuna Salad and a Give-away
A really excellent recipe, Cathy. And your presentation is lovely. I don’t cook much Thai food but my daughter brought me a wonderful Thai cookbook back from some recent travels. The recipes were quite involved with long lists of ingredients, some of which would be difficult to find. It kind of put me off. Now THIS recipe is perfect!
Barbara recently posted..Cute Little Pies
I bet it’s delicious..
Monique recently posted..Gardening~ Enchantment~
I love the idea of letting the lemongrass, ginger and chiles steep in the coconut milk. That would have been a heavenly aroma while it was simmering. I also didn’t know about the knife, fork, spoon and chopsticks. How other cultures do things is so very fascinating.
The dish looks delicious. We love Thai food here as well and will definitely be giving this a try. Many thanks for choosing it for your SRC dish and sharing it with us.
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time recently posted..Vegetarian Benedicts with Thyme Sabayon from Cooking Light Magazine, May 2012
This does look like a fabulous recipe. I pinned this one to try.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes recently posted..Chunky Monkey Banana Bread
My eyes lit up when I opened this post and saw that picture.
Looks so good!
Ohhh this sounds amazing!! We love thai food. I can’t wait to try this recipe out. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Erin recently posted..Penne Alla Salsiccia for Secret Recipe Club
I never knew that about Thai food and the utensils, neat! The recipe looks delicious.
Rhonda recently posted..The Best Thing I Ever Ate – Seafood
Somehow I have it in my head that any kind of asian food is too difficult, or too time consuming, so I never even try it. This recipe is so simple and it looks so good!
Karen recently posted..Corn Soup with Chicken and Poblano
Such a great looking dish and I love the presentation of the food. By the way, it looks delicious and I would give a try to this.
Marnie Byod recently posted..real estate agent mitchelton
Love Thai curry. This is so pretty and mouthwatering.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Whole Wheat Cheese Crackers with Chives and Mustard
This Thai chicken sounds great. I love the flavor that the lemongrass and ginger must add to this dish.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Chicken And Caramelized Onion Quesadilla
This looks right up our alley Cathy! We adore anything Thai. I love the look of this…so like a curry without the curry paste. I will be trying this soon!
Linda recently posted..Alton’s Buttermilk Biscuits
Gorgeous gorgeous photos! I don’t think I’ve ever had Thai food but you sooo make me wanna try some! This looks amazing. I’m longing for that coconut rice recipe too…. 🙂
Looks absolutely amazing! Foodness Gracious has such a great blog!
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