This freezer-friendly Creamy Thai green chicken curry is so simple to make, and has the most amazing textures and flavours. It is made with tender pieces of chicken, bamboo shoots, baby sweetcorn and eggplant, all cooked in a creamy and spicy green curry sauce. Replicate this Thai takeaway favourite today!
Notes on Ingredients
Curry paste
Quantity – I use 3/4 of a 114gm can of green curry paste paste (so about 85 gm), and freeze the remaining quarter for the next batch. I find using a full can is way too spicy for me, but 3/4 of a can is just right. I recommend using anywhere from 55gm to 110gm depending on your preference.
Brand – I haven’t done a whole lot of experimentation with curry paste brands, but I use Maesri and am very happy with the results.
Storebought vs homemade – It is not worth making curry paste completely from scratch, unless you have a recipe you’re confident in, can access the ingredients at a low cost and you plan on using a lot of curry paste. The few times I’ve made my own curry paste I’ve ended up spending a lot on ingredients for something that didn’t turn out right, in a quantity I didn’t manage to get through.
HOWEVER – I do think it’s worth starting with a store-bought curry paste as a base, and adding a few extras to get in more flavour. This is why the recipe below also includes lemongrass paste, ginger and garlic.
Eggplant
Leave as much skin on each piece, as this is what will hold the eggplant intact. For this reason I recommend using Lebanese eggplants (the long thin variety) which you can then cut into rounds. If you can’t get a hold of Lebanese eggplants you can substitute with another variety of eggplant.
Bamboo shoots
The recipe calls for 80 gms of canned bamboo shoots. I’m going to assume whatever size can you use you’re going to end up with leftovers. Give the extra bamboo shoots a good rinse under cold running water, then store in a container immersed in water in the fridge use within the next few days.
Chicken
As with most of our chicken recipes, we recommend chicken thigh fillet as it is moist and tender, and easy to work with. You can substitute with other cuts of chicken, or leave it out entirely for a vegetarian option.
Water vs Stock
Most recipes I looked at online called for chicken stock, however I don’t think it’s worth the extra expense. There is already so much flavour packed into this dish from the other ingredients that I just don’t think a stock is necessary. I’m not saying don’t use stock – if I happened to have leftover stock on hand I absolutely would use it instead of water – but don’t feel like you have to go out and buy some to make a good green curry.
Coconut Cream vs Coconut Milk
I read somewhere that Thai green curry should be made with coconut milk. I really don’t like changing these types of recipes too much from their traditional form, but in all honesty I just prefer coconut cream. The difference is a much richer, thicker and creamy Thai green chicken curry. Coconut milk still works though so take your pick depending on your personal taste and what you have available.
Recipe Costing (Australian)
This table shows how much this recipe will cost if you had to go out and buy everything on the ingredients list (“Shop Price”), as well as the value of ingredients actually used in the recipe (“Recipe Cost”).
We haven’t included optional ingredients or small quantities of salt, pepper or sugar as the cost would be negligible. All prices are in Australian dollars and are based off what was published on Coles Online or Woolworths Online as at time of writing.
4 Servings
| Ingredient | Quantity Bought | Shop Price | Recipe Needs | Recipe Cost |
| Ginger | 1 at $25/kg | $3.60 | 2 tsp (5 gm) | $0.15 |
| Garlic | 1 bulb at $25/kg | $1.50 | 2 cloves | $0.30 |
| Green curry paste | 1 tin (114 gm) | $1.45 | 85 gm | $1.08 |
| Lemongrass paste | 1 tube (80 gm) | $3.50 | 1 tbsp | $1.17 |
| Lebanese eggplants | 3 at $7.90/kg | $2.34 | 3 | $2.34 |
| Bamboo shoots | 1 tin (225 gm) | $1.10 | 80 gm | $0.39 |
| Chicken thighs | 600 gm at $12/kg | $7.20 | 600 gm | $7.20 |
| Coconut cream | 1 can (400 ml) | $1.00 | 400 ml | $1.00 |
| Fish sauce | 300 ml bottle | $2.00 | 2 tbsp | $0.20 |
| Kaffir lime leaves | 1 punnet (10 gm) | $3.00 | 3 leaves (1 gm) | $0.30 |
| Lime | 1 at $9.90/kg | $0.80 | 1 | $0.80 |
| Total | $27.49 | $14.93 |
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Pad Prik Khing – Dry Red Chicken Curry
- Quick Red Curry Chicken Noodle Soup
- Easy Vietnamese Chicken Curry (Ca Ri Ga)
- Chicken and Prawn Pad Thai
- Chicken Pad Thai with Spring Vegetables
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Steph
Thai Green Chicken Curry
Ingredients
Curry paste
- 2 tsp fresh ginger (5 gm), grated
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 4.5 tbsp Thai green curry paste
- 1 tbsp lemongrass paste (optional)
Curry
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 600 gm chicken thigh fillets cut into strips
- 1 cup water
- 3 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 125 gm baby sweetcorn (fresh or canned) cut in half lengthways, then each half into thirds crossways
- 3 Lebanese eggplants sliced into rounds 0.5cm thick
- 80 gm canned sliced bamboo shoots drained and rinsed
- 400 ml coconut cream
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
To garnish (All Optional)
- 2 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped (highly recommended)
- 2 cups beansprouts
- 2 chillies, roughly chopped
- 4 sprigs fresh coriander roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fried shallots
- 5 sprigs Thai basil
To serve
- jasmine rice for 4 people
- 1/4 lime
Instructions
- Combine the curry paste ingredients in a small bowl.
- Heat a large frying pan or a medium-sized wok over medium-high heat, then add the canola oil. Fry the curry paste for 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken, water, sugar and salt. Turn the heat up high and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for ten minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, prep the vegetables.
- Once the ten minutes is up, add the baby sweetcorn to the pot and simmer for two minutes.
- Add the eggplant and simmer for three minutes.
- Add the bamboo shoots and simmer for two minutes.
- Stir through the coconut cream and fish sauce. Return to the boil, then remove from heat.
- Taste the curry for seasoning and flavour. Adjust to your preferences. (Note 1)
To serve
- Spoon some rice into bowls or plates, then ladle over the curry.
- Set the garnishes on the table and allow everyone to help themselves.
Notes
- If you need more punch and seasoning then add more fish sauce. Otherwise add salt.
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