Name: Easy Healthy Curried Chicken and Rice
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 145 min
Yield: 5 people
Ingredients: 600 g chicken breast (skinless, diced); 200 ml coconut milk; 130 g uncooked basmati rice; 130 g frozen peas (or petits pois); 4 tbsp Skyr (or low fat Greek yogurt or fromage frais ); 1.5 tsp each: garam masala, cumin powder, turmeric powder,; 1 tsp each: ginger powder, coriander powder, onion granules, garlic granules, chilli flakes; 2/3 tsp fine sea salt; 3 tbsp olive oil; Freshly chopped coriander (cilantro for garnish)

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This healthy curried chicken and rice recipe, which has elements of biryani and korma, is a delicious, low fat dinner idea the whole family will enjoy!

This healthy curried chicken and rice recipe was inspired by a delicious chicken biryani I enjoyed on a recent visit to London where I stumbled upon what looked like a street food festival. Lucky me! I think food cooked and eaten outdoors always tastes better than indoors. That chicken biryani, served in a styrofoam container, handed to me in a paper bag with a plastic fork in it, was the best I ever had!

This easy chicken curry with rice has elements of biryani as well as korma. The chicken is marinated in a creamy mixture of spices, coconut milk and yogurt so it’s infused with lots of flavour. Unlike a biryani, however, where chicken is cooked together with the rice, for this recipe I cooked the chicken separately then combined it with the cooked rice.

Chicken cooks very quickly and for me the most reliable way of ensuring it doesn’t become tough and stringy is by cooking it separately.

The curried chicken and rice recipe is quite low in fat. It contains a little oil and the marinade itself is made using a combination of coconut milk (only 200 ml) and fat free Skyr (use low fat Greek yogurt or fromage frais instead).

Equipment you’ll need

Kitchen scale/measuring cup and spoon
Chopping board and knife
Large mixing bowl and spoon
Large shallow pan and spatula
Saucepan with lid for cooking the rice

How to make curried chicken and rice: step-by-step

1.In a mixing bowl combine the coconut milk with the yogurt, salt and all the spices. Stir thoroughly until smooth.

Yogurt and spices in mixing bowl with spoon.

2. Add the chicken pieces into the bowl and coat in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Raw chicken pieces in curried creamy marinade in mixing bowl with spoon.

3. In a large shallow pan heat up 3 tablespoons of oil, add the chicken along with the marinade and cook over a medium/high heat for about 6 minutes or until fully cooked (do not overcook it), stirring often. (Start cooking the rice, according to the packet instructions, first, and after it’s been boiling for about 5 minutes start cooking the chicken).

Chicken pieces in curry sauce in black oval skillet.

4. Remove the pan from the heat, add the cooked rice, frozen peas and stir thoroughly. Adjust the seasoning if needed, scatter freshly chopped cilantro over the top and serve.

Cooked rice and peas on top of creamy chicken curry with spoon in large black oval pan.

Top tips for making easy chicken curry with rice

Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
The chicken will need only about 6 minutes to cook so do this step after your rice has been cooking for about 5 minutes. That way both the rice and the chicken will be ready at the same time and all you’ll have to do is combine them and serve.
To ensure the chicken is tender and juicy it is essential not to overcook it.
Frozen peas: I used petits pois as they are sweeter than ordinary garden peas but it’s personal preference.
Storing: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. You may have to add a drop of water to loosen the mixture when reheating it.
Freeze for up to 3 months.

More easy curry recipes

Check out also this collection of 13 healthy, easy one pot chicken recipes!

Keep in touch

If you make this easy chicken rice curry recipe I’d love to know how it turned out for you. Let me know in the comments below, thanks:)

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