South Indian Coconut Chicken Curry

Indian coconut chicken curry, a wonderfully fragrant & spicy dish that combines fresh coconut & coconut milk with tamarind in a silky sauce.

This curry features influences from Kerala and Goa in the south of India and it is the perfect way to change up your curry game!

South Indian Chicken Curry

As a Brummie growing up in the 80’s and 90’s Indian food was as ubiquitous in my food experience as traditional British food.

My love of “Indian” style curries was initially heavily influenced by the Bangladeshi, Punjabi and Pakistani restaurants that were so common and the diaspora that I grew up alongside.

Dishes like my beef dopiaza, chicken rogan josh and king prawn bhuna all cemented their place in my foodie heart in my formative years and are heavily influenced by flavours from the North of the Indian subcontinent.

This coconut chicken curry is a little different, it takes its influences from the south of India, from places like Kerala and Goa and is the influence for my squid ring curry.

It goes heavy with coconut and features both coconut milk and fresh coconut, which gives the dish a beautiful mouth feel and flavour but also a sweetness that I adore.

Coconut milk is often associated with South East Asian curries, but I features in Indian food too and it is the bedrock of recipes like my monkfish curry and Indian-influenced curry mussels.

That creaminess is balanced out with tamarind, that wonderful earthy sour ingredient that I use a great deal!

You will adore the complex yet complimentary and delicious flavours of this awesome chicken curry!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fresh or frozen coconut better in this recipe?

I usually use frozen coconut because it is incredibly convenient and I don’t cook a lot with fresh coconut and as a result, it often goes to waste.

If you are using fresh coconut I have added a section with detailed instructions as to how to open and prepare the coconut in the next section down.

Can I use tamarind concentrate?

You can, however, you will need to use your judgement on how much to use.

I personally find that tamarind concentrates vary significantly and can add an almost metallic “tinge” to dishes if overused. This is the reason that I prefer to use a block of tamarind.

Can I use low-fat coconut milk?

I would personally never use low-fat coconut milk, it is essentially “watered” down coconut milk and fat plays an important role in how spice works in a recipe.

Can I use frozen curry leaves?

I would advise against using dried curry leaves, as far as I am concerned they have very little flaovur.

Fresh curry leaves are relatively easy to find in good Indian and Pakistani food stores and thy freeze wonderfully!

Can I make this in advance?

Yes this dish will sit in the fridge for 2-3 days is stored well and the flavour will improve over time.

How to Open a Fresh Coconut

If you want to use fresh coconut in this recipe but you are not sure where to start, here is a guide in pictures.

Take a look at a coconut, it has 3 dark “holes” at the top, running between these you have 3 seams that run top to bottom.

These are the seams you need to hit with a hammer. Hold the coconut in your weaker hand with the holes facing you.

Then firmly strike the seam, working from the hole end toward the bottom. You do not need to leather the snot out of it, just firm clean strikes.

Then move on to the next seam and then the third. By the time you have finished, you should be able to peel away the husk.

Once this is done you can peel the outer layer with a vegetable peeler. This takes a bit of effort but it will come away once you get started. Finally, you can open your coconut and shred it, grate it or chop it how you want. You need around a third of a coconut for this recipe, but it does freeze wonderfully!

Serving Suggestions

Curries, in my opinion almost always are better when served with some form of Indian flatbread and this coconut chicken curry is no different to my mind!

The almost “soupy” nature of the curry makes the good old tandoori-style naan bread the perfect option. But if you are a chapati or roti fan, don’t sweat it, they work well too!

Of course, rice is always a solid option with a curry and this recipe is awesome with either plain rice or a good pilau rice.

Potatoes also make a nice side with this dish, both my roasted Bombay potatoes and aloo methi are solid options.

However, I am much more likely to keep this curry fairly light and fill up on poppadoms, kachumber salad, mint raita and mango chutney as a starter.

Equipment Used

I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

• Stovetop.
• Wok.
• Blender.
• Kettle for boiling water to soak the tamarind.
• Small mixing bowl.
• Small fine mesh sieve.
• Stirring and serving spoons.
• Chopping board.
• Kitchen knife.
• Weighing scales and or measuring jug, cups and spoons.