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Not long ago, someone asked me an interesting question: "If you could choose any type of food, which would you pick as your favorite?". I really had to think on that one for awhile...
My first thoughts were of universally-beloved, Italian cuisine and the delightful fresh, sunny flavors of the Mediterranean. Then I remembered France and all the delightful regions, each one with their own delicious specialties. I thought about Germany and the wonderful sausages, dumplings and hearty comfort-food dishes. Even historically bland British food has gone upscale and innovative in recent years with fabulous chefs like Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey and others storming the culinary world with fresh, vibrant and healthy creations.
It was fun letting my mind wander around the globe, recalling all the delectable ethnic specialties, but finally I settled on the Far East. I cheated just a little bit, choosing two cuisines instead of just one, but the two I chose have a lot in common. Thailand and Vietnam are the places I landed, and just thinking about the flavors of those countries makes my mouth water. What I love most about these two cuisines are the fresh bold flavors and the way they combine common ingredients in such delicious and unique ways.
If you search the archives of The Café, you'll be sure to find lots of evidence of our fondness for Thai and Vietnamese cuisines. We just can't seem to get enough!
Being January, there's a scarcity of local fresh ingredients at the market, so I decided to have some coconut-curry fun with the super sweet, tiny corn that can be found in the frozen section all year round. I also picked up some beautiful snow white mushrooms, a bunch of cilantro, a bag of mini bell peppers, a small piece of fresh ginger and some skinless, boneless chicken breasts. The rest of the ingredients I had on hand in my pantry or fridge, so I went to town creating a new Café coconut curry.
It took me two tries to get it just right. With each batch making a big pot, we've been eating a lot of curry lately, but we haven't tired of it at all. Each flavorful, bowlful has been happily gobbled up. I love that it's super healthy with lots of fresh veggies; onions, carrots, garlic, peppers, mushrooms and corn.
To intensify the flavor of the frozen corn and the mushrooms I combined them with a drizzle of olive oil and a scatter of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and roasted them in a hot oven.
I used an old Asian culinary trick with the chicken called "velvetizing". Have you ever heard of it? It's common in many stir-fry dishes and makes the chicken melt-in-your-mouth-tender. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be tough or dry (or both) when cooked, but this trick eliminates that problem. The chicken is sliced thin and marinated in a mixture of egg white, corn starch and a splash of rice vinegar. I add it to the curry at the very end, when it's bubbly and hot, then I cover it and turn off the heat. After 10 minutes, the chicken is perfectly cooked and so tender you won't believe it.
Well, it's just about lunch time. Guess what I'm going to have?
Yup, a BIG bowl of Roasted Corn and Chicken Coconut Curry. Wish I could share some with you but, I guess, in a way I have! Make a shopping list and next time you're at the market, pick up the ingredients for this delicious and flavorful curry.
ทานให้อร่อยนะ! - that's how you say Bon Appetit! in Thai (please don't ask me to pronounce it though).
- 1 large egg white
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
- 12 ounces tiny frozen corn kernels
- 16 ounces mushrooms
- 1 medium onion roughly chopped
- 4 medium carrots roughly chopped
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro*
- 4 medium cloves garlic
- 1 ½ tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 1 ½ tablespoon finely chopped lemongrass**
- 2-3 tablespoons red curry paste available in the Asian section at most larger grocers
- 1 tablespoon mild curry powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablepoons fish sauce
- 2 15 ounce can coconut milk I almost always use the light variety
- 1 medium red bell pepper quartered lengthwise and then sliced crosswise or you can use 6-8 of the mini bell peppers, depending on size
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- fresh basil for garnish
- fresh cilantro for garnish
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Place egg white in a medium size bowl and beat with a fork until frothy. Add cornstarch and rice vinegar and mix until smooth.
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Slice chicken into thin (¼-inch) bite-size strips. (If chicken is difficult to slice thinly, it helps to stick it in the freezer for 20 minutes before slicing). Add chicken to bowl with egg white mixture and stir to combine. Set aside.
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Preheat oven to 450˚F. Line 2 sheet pans with foil for easy clean up.
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Combine frozen corn,1 tablespoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon kosher salt on one of the prepared sheet pans. Stir to combine. Place mushrooms on the other sheet pan, drizzle evenly with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Give a few grinds of pepper to each pan. Stir to combine. Place both pans in the preheated oven. Roast corn for 10 minutes, stir and remove. Set aside. Continue roasting mushrooms for a total of 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minute to redistribute. Remove from oven and set aside.
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Heat oil over medium heat on a large Dutch oven or heavy bottom pot. Add onions and carrots. Cook for 5 minute until onions are soft, stirring frequently. Add cilantro*, garlic, ginger, lemongrass**, curry paste, curry powder and brown sugar. Cook for another minute.
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Add chicken broth and fish sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce to a steady simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes or until carrots are very tender.
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Add coconut milk and remove from heat. Use an immersion blender or a regular blender and puree until smooth. (If you use a regular blender, allow soup to cool a bit before blending and blend in batches).
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Return soup to pot (if using a regular blender). With pot over medium heat, return to a full, steady simmer. Add chicken, discarding any liquid that has accumulated in the bowl. Add the red peppers and stir to combine. Return soup to a boil then cover and turn off heat. Let sit, covered for 10 minutes. The chicken will cook during this rest time but will remain tender and velvety – if you allow it to cook for longer it will become tough.
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Add corn and mushrooms and stir to combine.
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Garnish with fresh basil and cilantro, if desired. Serve with jasmine rice or noodles.
* Even if you don't like cilantro, don't skip it here. You won't taste it in the finished product, I promise but it adds great flavor to this curry.
** Sometimes lemongrass is difficult to find. I like to keep this lemongrass paste in my freezer. It tastes really fresh and keeps for a long time in the freezer. This paste is becoming quite easy to find – I’ve noticed they’re even carrying it in the produce section at Super Walmart.) They also carry ginger in tubes like this. I usually keep some of that in my freezer also for when I'm in a pinch.
Christine Chippindale says
Made this last night for the family. We eat lots of Indian, Thai and Vietnamese food so I thought this would be a winner. The sauce was delicious. It is not clear when to add the fish sauce. I read the steps through several times and fish sauce is not included in the detailed step by step instructions. The chicken was a bit bland. I did not season the meat as I was following the instructions to a T. Next time I make this the chicken should be properly seasoned to pull out more flavors. The result -- kids liked it but wanted more flavor so next time I will go with 3 Tablespoons of red curry sauce (vs 2), season the meat and try to figure out when fish sauce should be added. We saved the sauce to make shrimp curry tonight!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks for your critique Christine, I appreciate your input. I've clarified when to add the fish sauce.
Jess says
When do you add the fish sauce? Didn't see it in the directions?
Thanks!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Jess, it's in step 2 that you add the fish sauce.
Cyndy Rogers says
Absolutely delicious. I made it exactly as written save for some of the salt and it was DELECTablE! Further, mine looked just like the photo (always a good sign haha).. Will definitely serve to guests. Served it over Alton Brown's Baked Brown Rice - always a hit as well.
Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet} says
WOW this is a winner recipe! I need to make this soon, especially with the chilly weather hitting again next week. Hope you are doing well Chris!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Well yum! I think I would have a bowl of that everyday this week. It looks and sounds amazing! The mushrooms looks so rich and earthy and the corn bright and crisp - I love it all! And why don't people like cilantro - I love it!
Anne@FromMySweetHeart says
Wow, this curry looks pretty spectacular Chris! The colors are so vibrant I can only imagine how vibrant this is on the palette! Thanks for sharing your tip on velvetizing. I bet that chicken almost melts in your mouth!
Val (from Alberta) says
Tried this last night and had it again tonight. Even better the next night. Great recipe, thank you, just a little confused as to when to add in the corn and mushrooms, or perhaps I missed that in the instructions. I threw it in at the end. Makes a great meal
Cheers
Sandra says
I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing Thai or Vietnamese cuisine but I'd love to try it. We have stri-fries often and I will use the 'velvetizing" tip. Thanks a bunch!
Susan says
I wish we had some better Thai restaurants here because I love Thai food. This sounds like such a delicious recipe and I love the term "velvetizing" the chicken. What a wonderful culinary trick! Pinning this one and will be searching through your other Asian and Thai recipes!
Easyfoodsmith says
What a fabulous curry!! You have tempted me beyond measures 😀
Pondside says
I think that there's a very good chance that this will be made at our house this week. I always come to your site when I have a taste for something and just don't know what it might be. It's a cold and very blustery day here on the coast and the ingredients for your Beef Bourguignon Soup are on the counter. Thank you!
TheKitchenLioness says
Dear Chris, what a fun post read through and I must admit that the recipe that you feature today looks absolutely amazing - just the right blend of spices, vegetables and "velvety chicken".
Have a great weekend,
Andrea
Laureen says
This looks wonderful Chris!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
This is glorious! I want to drink that creamy coconut curry gravy!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Angie
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
One whiff of the cilantro and the spices and I'd be in heaven with this dish. It's almost too pretty to eat.
cheri says
Thai and Vietnamese food is my favorite type of food too, The rice vinegar is a great tip, also great idea to freeze the lemon grass. Thanks!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Oh, does this curry look good! Love that rice vinegar trick, too. Those acids in small amounts can be workhorses in the kitchen to tenderize meats. Thanks so much for sharing, Chris. I will definitely be pinning!
Vicki Bensinger says
Chris I love both curry and coconut together so this sounds like a winner to me. With all these flavorful ingredients it's sure to please any curry lover. Thanks for sharing.
Susan says
Chris, we absolutely love all Thai food, and I think you have come up with a winning recipe. We always have the lemongrass in tubes in the refrigerator. Have not thought to freeze it. Does it need thawing to use, or will it simply slip right out of the tube. Great idea. I always have ginger root in the freezer and it is simple to grate it frozen.
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Susan, I just let the lemongrass sit out for a few minutes and then it's easy to squeeze out a tablespoon or more.
Marigene says
I love anything with curry and cilantro...I will definitely be trying this recipe, Chris. You always have the most beautiful presentations.
Have a great weekend.
Sophia @ NYfoodgasm says
This looks really damn fabulous!! I love how fresh it looks too! Must look at the sandwich too!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I just made a chicken curry soup that has been so cozy this week. I will have to try your curry next! Love the roasted corn addition!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
Velvetizing? You just rocked my world, Chris, I hate rubbery chicken and I can't wait to try this!
Ginny Hartzler says
The velvetizing is a great tip! I have never heard of it, but will love trying it. You find the coolest things!