Description
Coconut lime chicken promises a tantalizing journey through tropical flavors, blending zesty citrus with creamy coconut. Quick preparation and bold spices make this dish a delightful meal you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3)
- 2 tbsps avocado oil or cooking oil of choice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 cup minced onion (yellow or white)
- 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
- 2 tsps lime zest
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsps freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 can (13.66 oz or 403 ml) full fat coconut milk
- lime wedges for serving
- thinly sliced red chili (optional)
- chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- chopped Thai basil (optional)
Instructions
- Searing Chicken: Heat a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature with cooking oil. Golden-brown chicken breasts on both sides for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a holding plate.
- Aromatic Foundation: Without cleaning the skillet, sauté onions, garlic, and ginger until onions turn translucent with a light caramel hue, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Sauce Development: Add chili peppers, lime zest, and coconut milk to the skillet. Bring to a gentle boil, using a wooden spoon to release browned bits from the pan’s bottom.
- Cooking Chicken: Reduce heat to a simmer, return chicken to the sauce. Cover and cook for 14-20 minutes, ensuring chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), flipping midway through cooking.
- Finishing Touches: Enhance sauce with fish sauce and lime juice. Season with salt, then garnish with fresh herbs just before serving to elevate the dish’s aromatic profile.
Notes
- Sear with Precision: Achieve a perfect golden-brown crust by ensuring the skillet is hot and chicken is patted dry before cooking.
- Aromatic Base Matters: Properly caramelize onions, garlic, and ginger to develop a deep, rich flavor foundation for the entire dish.
- Simmer Smartly: Maintain a gentle simmer to keep chicken moist and tender, preventing overcooking and maintaining juiciness.
- Finish with Freshness: Add lime juice and herbs at the end to brighten the sauce and enhance the overall flavor profile, creating a vibrant and zesty finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 368
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 440 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg