• Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fitsian Food Life
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Fitsian Tips
  • My Story
  • Contact Me
    • Subscribe
    • Work With Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fast Fit Recipes
  • Recipes
  • My Story
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Me
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Fitsian Food Life » Hot Thai

    Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Chicken

    Published: Apr 14, 2023 by Clara · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This authentic Thai yellow curry chicken recipe utilizes fresh ingredients to create an authentic and mouthwatering meal.

    While its undeniably delicious, is Thai yellow curry healthy?

    An overhead shot of Thai yellow curry with rice on the side.

    Thai yellow curry is a very unhealthy dish due to its high fat content from the coconut milk and heavy usage of carbs from the rice. A serving of Thai yellow curry can run up to 700 calories, largely due to the fat content from coconut milk, which is a whopping 12 grams of fat per serving, and carbs from the rice that the curry is eaten with. 

    Luckily, with a few ingredient swaps, you can easily make a healthier version.

    Jump to:
    • ✅ Why This Recipe Works
    • 💭 What is Thai Yellow Curry?
    • 🍎 Calories and Nutrition - Make It Healthy
    • 📋 Ingredient Notes
    • 📖 Substitutions and Variations
    • 🔪 Step By Step Instructions
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • 💡Expert Tips
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 🍽 Related Recipes
    • 🍳 Recipe

    ✅ Why This Recipe Works

    Easy to make – No hours of prep in the kitchen or chopping needed. This dish will come together in about 30 minutes.

    Restaurant quality taste from home – By utilizing the key Thai curry making techniques from my cooking class at the Blue Elephant cooking school, you can make an authentic Thai yellow curry from home

    Healthy and nutritious – Tweaked to be lower in calories and fats and bulked up with protein, this is a great healthy Thai food recipe that will help you achieve your fitness goals

    💭 What is Thai Yellow Curry?

    Thai yellow chicken curry, or gaeng garee, is a popular flavorful Thai curry dish consisting of chicken pieces simmered in a delicious coconut curry sauce. The delicious herbs and spices from the curry mixed with juicy chicken pieces and paired for rice is a mouthwatering combo. While living in Thailand for a month, I was able to take a cooking class at the Blue Elephant cooking school, where I learned how to make yummy traditional Thai curries.

    🍎 Calories and Nutrition - Make It Healthy

    In this recipe, I used key ingredient swaps from my Tips to Make Healthy Thai Curry guide to make this a more macro-friendly and calorie-conscious meal. Here are some key tweaks I made:

    • Chicken – Opt to use lean protein like chicken thigh. Can also use chicken thigh, shrimps, fish, or seafood for other lean protein sources. 
    • Coconut Milk – Use light coconut milk - a serving of light milk is 45 calories vs 120 calories from normal coconut milk due to less fat content as the light version has less coconut cream. 
    • Portion sugar and seasonings mindfully – Used 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce. Both are essential to the curry flavor and 1 teaspoon of sugar is only 15 calories of sugar. 
    • Portion the rice – I used 1 serving of jasmine rice at 160 calories
    • Use cooking spray – Instead of traditional oil for everything that was sautéd or fried. 1 tablespoon of olive oil adds a whopping 120 calories to the dish, whereas cooking spray is 0 calories.

    For a detailed breakdown of each ingredients, their portioning, and how they make up the nutrition profile of the authentic Thai yellow curry chicken recipe, you may refer to the table below:

    Ingredient and macro break down for the Thai yellow curry.

    📋 Ingredient Notes

    Ingredients for the recipe laid out on the table.

    Yellow Curry Paste – I made yellow curry paste from scratch using a mortar and pestle. Yellow curry paste is a mixture of lemongrass, shrimp paste, coriander, cumin, galangal, ginger, kaffir lime leaves, Thai chilis, and turmeric.

    To make things easier, you can also use pre-made curry paste. Mae Ploy brand is a favorite among Thai cooks due to it's usage of shrimp paste, a key ingredient for authentic Thai curry.

    Chicken – I opted for boneless skinless chicken thigh for optimal texture. You can also use boneless chicken breasts too, but it may be a little dry. I would advise against using chicken with skin, as it adds about 100 more calories per serving, largely from fat. 

    Coconut Milk – Used 1 serving of light coconut milk - used warm water to deglaze as needed.

    Seasonings – The curry sauce is often seasoned with fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice to give it a balanced flavor. Palm sugar is what's traditionally used but both brown sugar and white sugar also work.

    Rice – Traditionally, Thai curry is served with Jasmine rice. You can also use brown rice if you'd prefer.

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    📖 Substitutions and Variations

    Galangal sub – Galangal is a relatively harder to find herb. I was able to find it at HMart as well as my local asian markets. You can order dried galangal online or substitute by using ginger and a spritz of lemon juice.

    Kaffir Lime Leaves – Kaffir lime leaves are also a harder to find herb. I've also been able to find it at HMart as well as my local Vietnamese grocery store, or find dried kaffir lime leaves online. If you cannot find it, you can just omit it.

    Adjust spiciness – Use no chilis for no spice, 1 Thai chili for a mild spice, and 2-3 chilis for a medium to heavier spice.

    Make red or green curry instead – Check out my authentic Thai red curry recipe and Thai green fish curry to see how. Or add some noodles and make Khao Soi.

    Switch up the rice with Brown rice, white rice, mixed grain rice or cauliflower rice – Health wise, they are all similar in calories and macros, with mixed grain rice slightly higher in calories (190 calories vs 160 calories for one serving). Cauliflower rice is a good option for those who prefer a low carb diet.

    Switch up the protein – Yellow curry goes well with seafood as well. Shrimp, crab meat, and squids are some of my favorite seafoods to make the curry with.

    🔪 Step By Step Instructions

    Prepare the rice – Ideally make the rice beforehand so that you can put the curry together when everything is done.

    Make the curry paste – Gather the yellow curry past ingredients together. Slice the lower half of the lemongrass into small slices until the purple rings disappear. Crush the garlic with the back of your knife and de-stem the kaffir lime leaf. Add all the curry paste ingredients together in a mortar and pestle. Grind until the mixture is a smooth paste, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a food processor. 

    Prepare the vegetables – Cut the carrots, onion, and garlic. 

    Sauté the curry paste –  Use cooking spray and spray a skillet, then saute the curry paste along with the garlic and onions.

    Making the curry paste in a mortar and pestle.
    Sauté the curry paste in a white pan.

    Add the coconut milk – Turn the stove to low heat and add in coconut milk. High heat will make the milk evaporate very fast. If that happens, you can deglaze the sauce with water.

    Cook the veggies and chicken – Add the vegetables and the chicken into the curry and cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked through thoroughly.

    Adding the coconut milk and turmeric to make the curry sauce.
    Cooking the chicken in the curry sauce.

    Season to taste – Add the fish sauce and sugar into the curry mixture. Taste and adjust if needed.

    Serve and enjoy – Garnish with cilantro and Thai chilies if desired and serve with rice, and enjoy your delicious yellow curry recipe.

    Close up view of Thai yellow curry chicken recipe.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    Is Thai yellow curry spicy?

    Yes, Thai yellow curry has a mild spice that comes from the usage of Thai chilis in making the curry paste. Compared to other types of Thai curries, such as green curry and red curry, yellow curry is on the more mild side. To adjust the spice level, adjust the amount of Thai chili you use.

    What does Thai yellow curry taste like?

    Thai yellow curry has a sweet and citrus-like savory flavor that comes from ground spices, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and shrimp paste, making a delicious combination of flavors. The coconut milk gives it a creamy taste that balances it out the savory taste.

    Is yellow curry good for you?

    Yes, yellow curry is good for you given the wide variety of nutrient packed herbs and the balanced macronutrients of chicken, carbs, and fats from the coconut milk that make it a well-balanced dish. Just use the ingredient swaps in this recipe to make the dish low fat.

    Is coconut milk unhealthy?

    Yes, coconut milk can be very unhealthy given that 1 serving of coconut milk is 120 calories due to its high fat content. For a healthier option, use light coconut milk, which is a lower fat content coconut milk with the same amazing flavor.

    💡Expert Tips

    Water to deglaze as needed – If the coconut milk seems to be evaporating too much, make sure the heat is lowered and deglaze the pan with water as needed

    Add turmeric later on – If your mortar and pestle is white and you want to have an easier time cleaning, add in the turmeric while your cooking the curry to prevent the mortar from staining. 

    Use a mortar and pestle for ultimate flavor – The mortar and pestle releases flavors in the herbs that cannot be achieved with a food processor, making the most authentic curry paste. This mortar and pestle on Amazon is relatively inexpensive and will be your new favorite kitchen tool.

    Kaffir Lime Leaf Stem – Be sure to destem the kaffir lime leaves - the stem has a bitter flavor that can be unpleasant. To destem, fold the leave in half and cut off the stem. 

    How to use lemongrass – For the curry paste, we will use the lower white half of the lemongrass stalk. Slice the lemongrass widthwise, until the purple rings begin to disappear.

    🥡 Storage

    Curry Paste – Homemade curry paste is great to make ahead and store. You can keep it in a closed glass container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Alternatively, you can store it in ice cube trays and freeze it up for up to 3 months.

    Overall Dish – After you've made the dish with the coconut milk and chicken, you can store it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

    🍽 Related Recipes

    • Overhead shot of a bowl of ramen.
      Shio Chicken Ramen
    • An overhead shot of the chicken mazemen recipe.
      Healthy Chicken Mazemen
    • Overhead shot of cha ca in a cast iron, served with herbs and rice noodles.
      Cha Ca Va Long (Vietnamese Turmeric Fish)
    • A bowl of khao soi with chopsticks twirling the noodles.
      Chicken Khao Soi Recipe

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like this recipe, consider a review further down the page. Thank you!

    🍳 Recipe

    An overhead shot of Thai yellow curry with rice on the side.

    Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Chicken

    Developed by Clara
    Thai yellow chicken curry, or gaeng garee, is a popular flavorful Thai curry dish consisting of chicken pieces simmered in a delicious coconut curry sauce. The delicious herbs and spices from the curry mixed with juicy chicken pieces and paired for rice is a mouthwatering combo.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Thai
    Servings 1
    Calories 396 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mortar and Pestle

    Ingredients
      

    Chicken Curry Components

    • 4 oz Boneless Chicken Thigh
    • ¼ Carrot
    • ¼ Onions (Sliced)
    • ⅓ cup Light coconut milk
    • ¼ cup Jasmine Rice (Uncooked)
    • 1 tablespoon Fish sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • Cilantro or Thai Basil (For garnish)

    Yellow Curry Paste

    • ½ stalk Lemongrass
    • 1 clove Garlic
    • 1 slice Galangal
    • ¼ Shallot
    • 1-2 Kaffir lime leaves
    • 1-2 Thai chilis
    • 4 Cilantro roots
    • 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon Ground coriander seeds
    • 1 teaspoon Shrimp paste
    • 1 teaspoon Ground turmeric
    • ¼ teaspoon White pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Start by making the rice beforehand so that you can put the curry together when everything is done.
    • Gather the yellow curry paste ingredients together. Slice the lower half of the lemongrass into small slices until the purple rings disappear. Crush the garlic with the back of your knife and de-stem the kaffir lime leaf. Add all the curry paste ingredients together in a mortar and pestle. Grind until the paste has reached a paste-like consistency, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a food processor.
    • Cut the carrots, mushrooms, onion, and garlic.
    • Use cooking spray and spray a skillet, then sauté the curry paste along with the garlic and onions.
    • Turn the stove to low heat and add in coconut milk. High heat will make the milk evaporate very fast. If that happens, you can deglaze the sauce with water.
    • Add the vegetables and the chicken into the curry and cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked through thoroughly.
    • Add the fish sauce and sugar into the curry mixture. Taste and adjust if needed.
    • Garnish with cilantro and chili flakes if desired and serve with rice, and enjoy your delicious yellow curry recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 396kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 31gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 1766mgPotassium: 682mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2639IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 5mg

    Notes

    Substitutions and Variations
    Adjust spiciness – Use no chilis for no spice, 1 Thai chili for a mild spice, and 2-3 chilis for a medium to heavier spice.
    Switch up the protein – Yellow curry goes well with seafood as well. Shrimp, crab meat, and squids are some of my favorite seafoods to make the curry with.
    Expert Tips
    Use a mortar and pestle for ultimate flavor – The mortar and pestle releases flavors in the herbs that cannot be achieved with a food processor, making the most authentic curry paste. 
    How to use lemongrass – For the curry paste, we will use the lower white half of the lemongrass stalk. Slice the lemongrass widthwise, until the purple rings begin to disappear.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @fitsianfoodlife or tag #fitsianfoodlife!
    « Thai Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp
    Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta (Healthy Copycat) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christina

      August 05, 2022 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the recipe it was delicious! I'm gonna try making this with red curry next time.

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Fitsian Food Life!

    Photo of myself on top of Lanikai hike in Oahu Hawaii.

    Hi, I'm Clara! I cook calorie-conscious, macro-friendly recipes to help achieve your fitness goals.

    Learn more >>

    Let's Stay Connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    🍲 Soup Season

    • healthy butternut squash soup
      Is Butternut Squash Soup Healthy?
    • Bowl of tom yum noodles with chopsticks twirled around the noodles.
      Tom Yum Noodle Soup
    • A bowl of chicken pho with chopsticks twirled around the noodles.
      Healthy Chicken Pho Recipe (Is Pho Healthy?)
    • healthy chao ga
      Chao Ga (Vietnamese Rice Porridge) Recipe
    • An overhead shot of a bowl of kalguksu chicken noodles on a coffee table.
      Chicken Kalguksu (Dak Kalguksu)
    • healthy beef sukiyaki
      Easy Beef Sukiyaki Recipe

    ⭐ Popular Posts

    • An assortment of healthy Thai dishes on a tray.
      20 Healthy Low Calorie Thai Foods
    • Healthy Kimchi Fried Rice
      Is Kimchi Fried Rice Healthy? (Healthy Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe)
    • Pepper Lunch Recipe
      Is Pepper Lunch Healthy?(A Low Calorie Pepper Lunch Recipe)
    • Protein Japanese Curry
      Is Japanese Curry Healthy? (A Low Carb Japanese Curry Recipe)
    • Close up of an assortment of sashimi.
      Is Sashimi Healthy? (5 Types of Sashimi and Their Benefits)
    • Healthy Korean Food
      24 Low Calorie Healthy Korean Foods (Is Korean Food Healthy?)

    Footer

    • Facebook profile
    • Instagram
    • Mail
    • Pinterest

    More Info

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Buy Me A Coffee

    Browse

    • All Recipes
    • Fitsian Tips

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Fitsian Food Life

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.