Description
Brazilian coconut chicken delivers a tantalizing blend of tropical flavors that dance across your palate. Spices from Brazil merge with creamy coconut, creating an irresistible dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Combine chicken pieces with lime juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl, ensuring thorough coating.
- Refrigerate the marinated chicken for 30 minutes to 2 hours to enhance flavor intensity.
- Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat at approximately 350°F.
- Sauté chopped onions until translucent and softened, approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce sliced red and yellow bell peppers, cooking until they become tender and slightly caramelized.
- Add chopped tomatoes and simmer for 3 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.
- Transfer marinated chicken to the skillet, browning each side for 5-7 minutes to develop a rich golden exterior.
- Incorporate grated ginger, ground coriander, and ground nutmeg, distributing evenly throughout the mixture.
- Pour coconut milk, chicken broth, and tomato paste into the skillet, stirring to create a cohesive sauce.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and sauce reaches a slightly thickened consistency.
- Remove from heat and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
- Plate and serve immediately with fresh lime wedges for an extra burst of citrus flavor.
Notes
- Marinate longer for deeper flavor infusion, ideally up to 4 hours in the refrigerator to enhance the spice blend’s intensity.
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken thighs for more tenderness and richer taste compared to chicken breasts.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity to control spice level, making the dish mild or extra hot based on personal preference.
- For gluten-free option, ensure all spices and broths are certified gluten-free and replace tomato paste with pureed fresh tomatoes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Brazilian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg