I just got back from a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico! It was MUCH needed vacation, and I have so many restaurant reviews for you. But first, a recipe for an easy weeknight chicken curry that uses a spice mix I bought at Savory Spice while I was on vacation.
The bae and I arrived in Santa Fe a few hours before hotel check-in, so we took a walk into the plaza. Along the way, we stopped at the cutest little spice shop! The store smelled amazing, and the two employees there showed us how to taste whatever we wanted! The bae and I both left with several spices. I'm so thankful he's as weirdly into foodstuffs as I am.
Ghost pepper chili powder
We both left the store with a bottle of Ghost Pepper Curry Powder, and when I got home, I was SO excited to use it. The curry powder reminds me of the Vietnamese curry powder that my family buys from Cho Ben Thanh in Vietnam. I used that powder for my Lemongrass Curry Fried Fish (Cá Chiên Cà Ri Sả). This powder has more of a kick though, from the ghost peppers.
The chicken curry I made with this spice is so easy to customize. You don't have to use the same vegetables I did. You don't even have to use chicken! The recipe will taste just as good with pork, beef or even tofu. The recipe is more of a basic backbone than rigid instructions. Experiment with what you love and let me know how it comes out!
You don't need this special Ghost Pepper Curry powder to make this dish either. Just increase the amount of red pepper flakes in the marinade to compensate for the lack of heat in your regular curry powder!
Traditional cà ri gà is thinner and more soupy and typically served with bread for dipping. This recipe has all of the same flavors, but has less liquid and is thicker, like a typical Thai curry. It tastes great by itself or over rice!
Easy Chicken Curry: Step-by-step instructions
Start by chopping up your chicken into small cubes, about an inch. I used skin-on chicken thighs because they're flavorful and harder to overcook. You can use any protein that you like! Marinate the protein with fish sauce, chopped lemongrass, red pepper flakes, garlic, shallot, salt and pepper. Omit the red pepper flakes if you can't handle the spice. Increase it if your curry powder isn't already spicy!
Fry the chicken in a large skillet over medium-high head. After about a minute, sprinkle your curry powder in.
Add your vegetables when the meat is completely opaque. I added the cauliflower first, waited a few minutes, and then added zucchini, oyster and shiitake mushrooms. Add the vegetables that take longest to cook first. It will look like you have a lot of vegetables, but they will cook down.
Add some chicken broth and a can of coconut milk. If you like your curry thicc, don't add the chicken broth at all! Let everything simmer for about 5 minutes.
This chicken curry was good enough to eat on its own, but would be equally delicious served over rice.
Christopher Mitchell says
Well, this officially has made me starving! I now am going to have to go and either make this, or head to the nearest Vietnamese restaurant!
Suzanne Nuyen says
It doesn't take too long to make at all! Definitely try it 🙂
Dalene Ekirapa says
Yes! I love the recipe!
Chicken curry and some hot steaming rice is one of my favorites go-to dishes for lunch! And I also love it peppery!
Yuum!
Ruby - Runaway Baker says
I recently found ghost pepper powder down in London and now I have something to try it with! great recipe 🙂
Susan Graham says
Hi Suzanne, This looks great! I’m making it right now! Do I dump the marinade in the hot pan with the chicken in Step 3?
Suzanne Nuyen says
Yes, you do! All of it goes in together.
aisasami says
I don't know if they sell Ghost Pepper Curry Powder here in Japan but I will ask my Vietnamese friend (and ask him how to make the best curry).
Suzanne Nuyen says
You can use regular curry powder and just add some red pepper flake to make it spicier 🙂
Kalyan Panja says
Thanks for sharing about this easy chicken curry recipe! It will be helpful to many who are searching for inspiration to prepare it at home.
Brandy says
That looks so good! I love curry but couldn;t handle the ghost pepper!!
Suzanne Nuyen says
You can try regular curry powder and just add a bit of chili pepper to your desired spiciness!
twinspirational says
It looks so delicious and easy to prepare..! My family will surely love this since they love curry dishes so much. Thanks for sharing..
Catherine Santiago Jose says
My husband and I loves chicken curry a lot and this recipe of yours looks really delicious. I am going to make this for him and I am sure he is going to like it.
Viano Dee says
Chicken curry! So nice. My made it once. It was her first try and it tasted really nice. I had totally forgotten until now. I should make it sometime.
Ashli Ferguson says
MY dad would LOVE this!!
Chad says
oh yessss!!! This looks soooo delicious!!! I will definitely try to make it, can't wait.
Lavern Moore says
I would really like to make this curry dish. I think I would really enjoy it. Curry chicken chicken seems like it Would be so delicious.
Jen @ Jenron Designs says
This sounds so yummy we love to eat a lot of curries in the fall and winter months so I will Pin It for later.
Lindsay Veremis says
I am obsessed with curry, so this recipe is a must try. A little intimidated by the ghost pepper curry, but I do like spice... so we'll go with it. Yum yum!
Lauren says
I LOVE CURRY!! So this is something I would easily try!! This looks well made! Thanks for sharing!!
Norma Nikutowski says
The chicken curry recipe seems delicious and easy to make. I can't wait to try it out myself.
Tracy Albiero says
It looks very yummy. I am glad it is easy. I may give it a try. Thanks for posting!
GiGi Eats says
I've been making my husband curry a LOT lately and he's obsessed!!! It's such an easy dish to make as well and so very healthy so I LOVE that he is into it and asks for it (otherwise he's always wanting to eat out).
Suzanne Nuyen says
I love that there are so many different kinds of curry!
Ritu Sharma says
These look so tasty and the recipe seems really easy.
Kuntala says
Learned a new recipe. Looks very yummy
Amanda J says
Very interesting! I think my husband would really like this!
Adriana says
I've never seen a ghost pepper curry powder. I am going to give this recipe a shot.
Erika Tiara says
What a delicious dish! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe, i'll try this out for sure!
Sydney says
This looks delicious and simply to make! I'll have to save it to try later.
Whitney says
Oh, I'm so hungry right now, and I love to cook. Definitely adding this to my recipe file. And your pics are phenomenal. Love your recipes!