Homemade Spicy Brazilian Coconut Chicken
This Spicy Brazilian Coconut Chicken is the ultimate vibrant, soul-warming meal that brings a taste of the tropics right to your dinner table. The aroma of searing chicken mingling with ginger, garlic, and rich coconut milk is enough to draw the whole family into the kitchen before the timer even goes off.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp coconut or olive oil
- 1 can 14 oz full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
- 1 tsp turmeric and 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes adjust for spice
- Fresh cilantro and lime wedges for garnish
- Cooked white rice for serving
Instructions
- Sear: Heat oil in a large skillet. Season chicken with salt, pepper, cumin, and turmeric, then sear until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Aromatics: In the same pan, sauté garlic and ginger for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer: Whisk in tomato paste and coconut milk. Return chicken to the pan and add red pepper flakes.
- Thicken: Simmer over medium-low heat for 10–12 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve: Spoon over warm rice, garnish with plenty of cilantro, and serve with lime wedges.