The Best Thai Chicken Curry
On my Rasa Malaysia Facebook fan page, a reader asked me how to prepare Thai chicken curry with bamboo shoots, like the ones commonly served at Thai restaurants here in the United States.
It was a coincidence that I had some leftover bamboo shoots in the refrigerator so I made a small pot of Thai chicken curry.
Ingredients for Thai Chicken Curry
- Red curry paste
- Boneless and skinless chicken breast
- Coconut milk
- Bamboo shoots
- Red bell pepper
- Palm sugar
- Fish sauce
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best bamboo shoots to buy?
Some readers commented that some bamboo shoots have a very strong and funky smell. The safest option is to buy canned bamboo shoots, which have been cooked and sliced into pieces. They are available at most supermarkets and Asian grocery stores, or online.
How many calories?
This recipe has 155 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with this Recipe?
This dish is best served with white rice. For a wholesome Thai meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
Pairs well with:
Thai Chicken Curry with Bamboo Shoots Recipe
Thai Chicken Curry - homemade Thai chicken curry is SO easy to make with simple ingredients. And, it's so much better and healthier than restaurants!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons red curry paste, I used Mae Ploy red curry paste
- 8 oz boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
- 80 ml coconut milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 oz canned bamboo shoots
- 1/2 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
- 2 teaspoons palm sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon fish sauce
Directions
-
1Heat up a small pot with the cooking oil. Saute the red curry paste until aromatic. Add the chicken into the pot and stir well with the curry paste. Add the coconut milk, water, long beans, bamboo shoots, red bell pepper and bring the curry to boil, about 5 minutes. Add fish sauce, palm sugar, and let boil for another minute or so, dish out and serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice.
Juliana Huynh
I’ve seen this asked before, but haven’t seen a response. Your recipe mentions long beans, but the ingredient list doesn’t. Is there something missing?
Rasa Malaysia
You can add some a few long beans, optional.
Norm
Can I make this same recipe with potatoes and carrots instead? My kids are used to it that way. If so, how do you tweak the recipe since potatoes take longer to cook?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes you can. Sure, yes you can cook longer.
Diane
This is one of my favorite curry recipes! I live in Eastern Europe and I’ve never had “real” curry, but your recipes bring so much joy to my home, belly and heart that I can honestly say I’m falling in love with Asian cuisine. Thank you so much! By the way, the leftovers are every bit as delicious.
Didi
I have the dried bamboo shoot in my pantry. Is it still usable or should I invest on the canned bamboo? Thanks!
Rasa Malaysia
Canned bamboo shoots.
DMH
Thank you. I bought dried bamboo shoots by mistake. Do you have recipes that uses dried bamboo shoots?
Meenal
The directions mention long beans but the ingredient list doesn’t have it….How much beans do you put in?
Kala
1/4 teaspoon of fish sauce seems like very little, can be omitted or substituted?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes it can. Fish sauce has a strong flavor and salty. Just use salt.
Angie
Just had horse urine smelling drunken noodles that we had to send back to the kitchen at a local thai restaurant. I thought I was going out of my mind, thankgoodness you’ve posted about this, we were thinking there was something worng with us, not liking a certain thai spice, that we couldn’t pin point. And instead of going out for thai next time, I’ll just make one of your recipes :).
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Angie, it’s the bamboo shoots not being properly cleaned. Yes, Thai food is so easy to make, you can make on your own next time. :)
justinerae
Made this tonight along with the 15-minute Tom Yum soup. It was great. The only substitution I made was golden brown sugar in place of palm sugar, and chicken thigh instead of chicken breast. I doubled the recipe but felt that I should have added a bit more coconut milk for a creamier taste. Will make again…
Ingrid
Thai soups are my favorites…Especially with coconut milk!
san
We just had this and Panang Curry Beef the other day….will definitely make this soon.
tigerfish
Aiyo….I really hate it when the bamboo shoots smell like horse urine. I get what you mean. There are Thai restaurants here serving Thai curry with smelly bamboo shoots, then it spoils the whole dish! How come they still serve it? arrghhhh…..
Peter Pantry Raider
I recall enjoying lemak bamboo shoots (with prawns, so you will love it) curry and balitong/potatoes? curry cooked by a friends mother (Nonya) who was really a very great cook. That was over 40 years ago long before most of you were born. So this Thai bamboo shoot curry brings back memories for me. Bamboo shoots are believed to be very “hong”.
Will try to cook the bamboo shoot/prawns curry next time I go to the market. Wonder if adding slices of brinjals into the curry will be nice. Adding petai may overpower the fragrance of the bamboo shoots.
Just a thought. Maybe someday you can give readers the recipe for frying champedak together with boiling champedak seeds to eat. Malays cook young champedak curry and the banana flower buds curry also. Both are also nice.
Debs
Sounds lovely. I always use Mae Ploy pastes too. Can’t beat them.
Mzungu
I love Thai food, but I normally make my own pastes, as I find the shop brought ones lack in taste a bit. Homemade ones punch plenty of flavour.
Rasa Malaysia
Of course. It will be great if you can share the recipe of the homemade curry paste.
LimeCake
I always have a can of Thai curry paste in my kitchen cupboard. You can just about throw any meat and vegetables in it for a quick meal. This curry looks delicious!
Rasa Malaysia
Yep, me too. When I run out of ideas what to cook, I can always rely on a good pot of Thai chicken curry.
Shirley
I love Thai curries and always order this at Thai restaurants. Thanks so much for this chicken curry recipe, I always wonder how to make it.
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks, I am glad that you find this Thai chicken curry recipe useful. :)
Lori
how many serving is this recipe? Thank you!
Rasa Malaysia
2-3 people.