When I was growing up, my parents rarely cooked dinner (we were more sandwich people), which is one of the reasons why I love spending time in the kitchen — especially when it comes to international cuisine. Luckily, I have a husband and a growing 2-year-old who don't mind using their passports at the dinner table.
If there's one thing I love, it's creamy chicken — especially if it involves some yummy coconut milk. I recently stumbled across this easy-to-make Brazilian chicken dish that made me want to re-create it for my family. With a family-size packet of chicken, I figured, Why not give this a go? At least I have extra pieces for something else.
And, thankfully, it was a hit!
Brazilian Chicken With Coconut Milk (adapted from recipe on AllRecipes.com)
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
- 1½ teaspoons ground coriander
- 1½ teaspooons ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 can coconut milk
- ½ cup taco salsa*
(*Note: I substituted onions, tomatoes, and jalapeno peppers with taco salsa I happened to have in the pantry. This is a great alternative for families with picky eaters or if you don't have time to run to the store.)
Directions:
1.) Mix the first seven ingredients to create a spice mixture. Rub generously on both sides of each chicken breast.
2.) Heat olive oil in skillet on medium-high heat. Cook chicken 10 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink. Optional: Remove from heat and cut into strips. (You can do this before cooking or after.) Add chicken back to skillet.
3.) Stir in coconut milk and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add additional parsley for garnish.
Serve with rice and vegetables.
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My 2-year-old cleaned his plate — so I guess you could say he liked his meal. This was a pretty straightforward dish with a ton of flavor and yummy goodness.
Prices of items used:
- $4 – Chicken breast family pack (price reflects half an $8 family pack)
- $1 – Coconut milk
- $1 – Bag of steamable green beans (I used bulk rice from my pantry, but you can purchase a small box/bag for $2.50 if needed)
$6 ($8.50 if you purchase rice)
Images via Tanvier Peart
