Massaman curry is a mild curry that is made with fragrant spices and coconut milk. Though the flavors (and the inclusion of potatoes in the curry) take inspiration from India, the curry is most common in Thailand. Smarts #1: In testing this recipe we used a standard grocery store peanut butter that included salt and sugar. If using natural peanut butter, you may want to add a bit of sweetener and / or extra salt to the finished dish. Smarts #2: Look for tamarind concentrate at international grocers or order it online. You can also use 2 parts brown sugar to 1 part lime juice as a substitute.
Curry paste, Massaman
- 2 Tbsp
(sub red curry paste)
Coriander, ground
- 1 tsp
Cumin, ground
- 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp
Sauteed Broccoli:
Broccoli
- 12 oz
, chopped
Oil, cooking
- 1 Tbsp
Stock, any type
- 1/4 cup
Massaman Chicken Curry:
Rice, uncooked white or brown
- 3/4 cup
Onions, red
- 1/2
, thinly sliced
Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- 1 lb
, chopped into bite-sized pieces
Potatoes, russet
- 1 lb
, peeled and cubed
Oil, cooking
- 1 Tbsp
Stock, any type
- 1 cup
Coconut milk, light
- 1 cup
Tamarind concentrate
- 2 Tbsp
Fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp
(sub soy sauce)
Peanut butter
- 1 Tbsp
Limes
- 1
, wedges
Cilantro (opt)
- 2 Tbsp
, chopped
Prep
Rice - For white rice, rinse until clear. Fill a saucepan or Dutch oven (or rice cooker) with rice, water (use 2:1 ratio for water to rice), and some salt. Cover with lid and bring to a boil. Once water boils, stir, lower heat to a low-medium, and cover. Check white rice after ~20 min; brown at ~45 min. Rice is done when it's absorbed all the water. If it's not done, leave the cover on until all water has been absorbed. Take cover off to release steam and fluff with a wooden spoon after 5 minutes. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Broccoli / Onions / Peanuts / Garlic / Shallots / Ginger - Prep as directed. Store broccoli and onions each in their own containers. Combine peanuts, garlic, shallots, and ginger in one container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Make curry base - Combine peanuts, garlic, shallots, ginger, curry paste, coriander, cumin, and cinnamon. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Chicken - Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces. Tenderize with a fork and season with some salt and pepper. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
Potatoes - Peel and cube. If not using right away, soak in water to prevent browning.
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Heat a Dutch oven with oil (portion for curry) over medium-high heat. Add chicken and saute until chicken is golden brown on the outside but not cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add curry base and onions and saute until onions are starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add potatoes, stock (portion for curry), and coconut milk. Bring to a low simmer and cover with the lid.
Simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes.
When curry is nearly finished, heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil (portion for broccoli) and then broccoli and a pinch of salt. Saute broccoli for 2 minutes to get it started cooking.
Pour stock (portion for the broccoli) over top and cover with a lid or foil. Steam broccoli until tender, ~5 minutes.
Return to curry and stir in tamarind concentrate, fish sauce, and peanut butter. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 minute more.