Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (2024)

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Ready in 15 minutes, this Choo Chee Curry with Chicken recipe is a beloved Thai-Australian fusion dish. It features an easy curry sauce made with fragrant Thai red curry, creamy coconut, kaffir lime and a hint of sugar for the perfect mid-week dinner.

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (1)

Why We Love This

Choo Chee Chicken is PACKED with flavour and is super easy to whip up in around 15 minutes.

There’s just something about that glossy, spicy, coconut and red curry sauce infused with kaffir lime that will have you coming back for seconds.

Related: Thai Green Curry Paste / Panang Chicken Curry

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (2)

What is Choo Chee Curry?

Choo chee sauce is traditionally a style of Thai red curry paired with seafood in Thailand. In our hometown of Adelaide, it’s more popularly served with chicken.

You can taste the Thai origins of this dish with its creamy coconut infused red curry sauce and finely sliced fresh kaffir lime leaves, palm sugar and fish sauce.

P.S. If you love curries, why not try our amazing Vietnamese Chicken Curry, Thai Panang Curry or Indonesian Fish Curry?

What You’ll Need:

  • Red Curry Paste – Feel free to use your favourite panang curry paste or pre-made Thai red curry paste.
  • Coconut Cream – Coconut Cream is thicker and richer than coconut milk. It’s made by simmering four parts shredded coconut in one part water. If you can’t find it in your local supermarket, try checking your nearest Asian import store or look for coconut cream online. It’s fine to use coconut milk if you can’t find coconut cream, it will just be a slightly thinner sauce.
  • Kaffir Lime Leaves – If you’re afterthat classic Choo Chee Chicken flavour then you won’t want to miss out on kaffir lime leaves.Depending on where you live, you might source them fresh from your local market or import store, or they may be dried or bottled in the Asian section of your local supermarket. You can also find dried kaffir lime leaves online. While kaffir lime has quite a distinct scent, you can substitute with 1 heaped teaspoon of lime zest per leaf. You can also add a squeeze of lime juice for good measure.
  • Fish Sauce – This is essential. Fish sauce gives your Choo Chee Chicken that classic Thai saltiness. Again, you can usually find it in import stores, some supermarkets or buy fish sauce online. If you prefer to leave it out, you might like to add a little salt to taste or a teaspoon of soy sauce if you’re making a vegetarian version.
  • Palm Sugar Palm sugaris a gorgeous natural sweetener with a mild caramel flavour. Feel free to substitute with coconut sugar, regular brown sugar or raw sugar if you can’t find palm sugar readily.
Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (3)

How to make Choo Chee Chicken Curry:

Let’s get started by heating up 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large fry pan. Quickly fry the chicken in batches it transforms into a deliciously crispy golden brown. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (4)

Meanwhile, pop the red curry paste in a small saucepan with 2 tbsp of vegetable oil and stir. Continue to heat gently until fragrant. Pour in the coconut cream and most of the chopped kaffir lime leaves (keep the rest for a gorgeous garnish).

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (5)

After the sauce has heated through, reduce the heat to low and stir in the fish sauce and grated palm sugar. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (6)

Now plate everything up by popping a scoop of cooked rice into your serving bowl and layer with cooked chicken. Pour over with plenty of curry sauce then garnish with extra chopped kaffir lime leaves and finely sliced capsicum.

Best eaten with a spoon and a fork!

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (7)

Wandercook’s Tips

  • Whether you’re making Choo Chee Chicken or fish, or prawns, or pork, etc, you can actually cook the meat separately however you like. We usually stir fry the thinly sliced chicken but it’s also fine to poach, grill, or steam depending on your preference.
  • To slice kaffir lime leaves super thinly, first separate the leaves and then stack two or three at a time on top of each other. Roll up into a cylinder shape and then finely slice with a sharp knife. It’s much easier to slice the kaffir leaves this way than it is to chop them flat.
  • We prefer to leave the sliced kaffir lime leaf in the dish when serving for more of that gorgeous citrus flavour, but if you don’t like the texture (it’s quite a firm leaf), feel free to strain the sauce before serving.
  • Don’t be concerned if the sauce looks like it has separated with some of the oil floating on top – it’s actually a good sign!

FAQs

Can you cook Choo Chee Chicken in advance?

For the best and freshest flavour, serve Choo Chee Chicken straight away after cooking. If needed, the sauce can be made a few hours in advance, then poured over freshly cooked chicken.

Can Choo Chee Chicken be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze Choo Chee Chicken Curry. For best results, use within 1 month of freezing. The longer you leave it in the freezer, the more likely it is that the coconut milk will separate and start to look grainy.

What to serve with Choo Chee Chicken?

For a simple mid-week dinner, serve Choo Chee Chicken with fluffy white rice (jasmine or basmati pair perfectly).

Variations & Substitutes

  • Choo Chee Curry sauce pairs perfectly with white fish, prawns and even pork instead of chicken. For a vegetarian option, why not try it with tofu or eggplant with bell pepper or enoki mushrooms?
  • For a vegan version, swap the fish sauce for soy sauce and make sure to use a vegan red curry paste. You may want to add a little extra salt to balance the flavour.

Try these amazing Asian curries next:

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (9)
Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (10)
Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (11)
Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (12)

★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating below!

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe

Ready in 15 minutes, this Choo Chee Curry with Chicken recipe is a beloved Thai-Australian fusion dish. It features an easy curry sauce made with fragrant Thai red curry, creamy coconut, kaffir lime and a hint of sugar for the perfect mid-week dinner.

4.88 from 16 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save to Favourites

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Thai

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 795kcal

Author: Wandercooks

Cost: $15-20

Ingredients

MetricUS Customary

Instructions

  • Heat half of the vegetable oil in a large fry pan. Quickly fry the chicken in batches it transforms into a deliciously crispy golden brown. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    4 tbsp vegetable oil, 2 chicken breasts

  • Meanwhile, pop the red curry paste in a small saucepan with the remaining vegetable oil and stir. Gently fry until fragrant, around 1-2 mins. Pour in the coconut cream and most of the chopped kaffir lime leaves (keep the rest for a gorgeous garnish).

    400 ml coconut cream, 1 ½ tbsp thai red curry paste, 4 tbsp vegetable oil, 8-10 Thai makrut / kaffir lime leaves

  • After the sauce has heated through, reduce the heat to low and stir in the fish sauce and grated palm sugar. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp palm sugar

  • Now plate everything up by popping a scoop of cooked rice into your serving bowl and layer with cooked chicken. Pour over with plenty of curry sauce then garnish with remaining kaffir lime leaves and finely sliced capsicum.

    ¼ capsicum / bell pepper

Video

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (14)

Recipe Notes

  • Whether you’re making Choo Chee Chicken or fish, or prawns, or pork, etc, you can actually cook the meat separately however you like. We usually stir fry the thinly sliced chicken but it’s also fine to poach, grill, or steam depending on your preference.
  • To slice kaffir lime leaves super thinly, first separate the leaves and then stack two or three at a time on top of each other. Roll up into a cylinder shape and then finely slice with a sharp knife. It’s much easier to slice the kaffir leaves this way than it is to chop them flat.
  • We prefer to leave the sliced kaffir lime leaf in the dish when serving for more of that gorgeous citrusy flavour, but if you don’t like the texture (it’s quite a firm leaf), feel free to strain the sauce before serving.
  • Don’t be concerned if the sauce looks like it has separated with some of the oil floating on top – it’s actually a good sign! 🙂

Variations

  • Choo Chee Curry sauce pairs perfectly with white fish, prawns and even pork. For a vegetarian option, why not try it with tofu or eggplant with bell pepper or enoki mushrooms?
  • For a vegan version, omit the fish sauce and make sure to use a vegan red curry pasteChoo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (15). You may want to add a little extra salt to balance the flavour.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

795

% Daily Value*

Fat

52

g

80

%

Saturated Fat

269

%

Cholesterol

72

mg

24

%

Sodium

492

mg

21

%

Potassium

827

mg

24

%

Carbohydrates

53

g

18

%

Fiber

3

g

13

%

Sugar

2

g

2

%

Protein

32

g

64

%

Vitamin A

1155

IU

23

%

Vitamin C

14.1

mg

17

%

Calcium

40

mg

4

%

Iron

3.2

mg

18

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (16)

About Wandercooks

Wandercooks is an Australian recipe site reaching over 9 million views annually. Our recipes are here to inspire you with fresh and exciting food ideas from a range of Asian, European and Australian cuisines. As seen on Google.com, Today.com, Buzzfeed, Jetstar Asia and Lonely Planet.Read more...

Choo Chee Chicken Curry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is choo chee sauce made of? ›

Ready in 15 minutes, this Choo Chee Curry with Chicken recipe is a beloved Thai-Australian fusion dish. It features an easy curry sauce made with fragrant Thai red curry, creamy coconut, kaffir lime and a hint of sugar for the perfect mid-week dinner.

What is the difference between chu chee and red curry? ›

Also spelled as chu chee or kaeng choo chee, this curry shares many similarities with Thai red curry. The main difference is that choo chee tends to be more heavily scented with makrut lime leaves. It's also a bit creamier and a bit sweeter. It also differs a bit in the serving recommendations.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

How to enhance the taste of chicken curry? ›

Another simple way to improve the taste of bland curries is by adding some slightly roasted onions, garlic, ginger. You can toss or caramelize them separately and add them to the curry and simmer for sometime so that it can absorb the flavours.

What's the difference between panang curry and red curry? ›

What's the Difference between Panang Curry and Red Curry? The main difference is that Panang Curry has a little less chilli and slightly more mellow flavour, and also has roasted peanuts mixed through (which we do with good old peanut butter).

What does chee taste like? ›

Slowly working the cheese around your mouth, notice which tastes are apparent first, then which tastes develop later and which, if any, linger. Words that describe taste are: sweet, mild, milky, buttery, delicate, salty, sharp, acidic, tart, tangy, lemony, bitter, nutty, piquant, smoky, yeasty.

Which Thai curry is the tastiest? ›

5 Mouth Watering Thai Curries That'll Leave You Wanting More
  • Green Curry. This Green Curry is one of the best Thai curries if you like hot, spicy food. ...
  • Red Curry. Kaeng Phet is as spicy as they come, bursting with the flavor of both fresh and dried red chillis. ...
  • Yellow Curry. ...
  • Panang Curry. ...
  • Massaman Curry.
Mar 9, 2020

Which is hotter, red or green or yellow curry? ›

Over time, however, other ingredients have been added to the curry pastes to enhance each recipe, making them more distinct from one another. Although all three colors may be spicy-hot depending on the chef, normally green is the mildest and red the hottest with yellow falling somewhere in between.

What is the mildest curry? ›

What is the Mildest Indian Curry ? Indian restaurant menus often serve different varieties of curries and the two mildest curries of all are - Korma (Navratan, Chicken) and pasanda (Paneer).

What are the secret ingredients to a good curry? ›

These are a few tips I learned in my culinary journey (mainly from my mom and grandmother).
  • Fenugreek- A pinch of fenugreek seeds or powder brings depth to fish curry's and any curry using curd. ( ...
  • Cardamom( elaichi)- an extra pod or two of Cardamom brings a beautifu flavour and aroma to Chicken curry.
Dec 30, 2018

Does curry need coconut milk or cream? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

What makes curry taste better? ›

Indian curries will benefit from the elemental trio of fried onion, ginger, and garlic. Beyond that, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise, nutmeg, and mace will help by flavoring your curries.

What thickens chicken curry? ›

Tomato puree/ paste

Adding tomato puree is probably the most common method of thickening curry sauces. Simply add the tomato puree during the cooking process rather than adding it at the end. This will help to thicken your curry or pasta sauce from the beginning, speeding up the cooking time.

Why is my chicken curry not tasty? ›

Curries can be bland if you haven't used enough of the base aromatics of garlic, ginger, and onion. The onion should be caramelized in oil until well browned and flavorful. Spices should not be old enough to lose potency and preferably should be toasted and ground yourself.

How do you add depth to chicken curry? ›

Onion, Garlic, Ginger: This trio adds depth and forms the foundational flavor of the curry. Chicken Broth: Forms the savory base of the curry sauce. Cornstarch: Used to thicken the sauce. Frozen Peas: Add color, texture, and sweetness to the dish, offering a nice contrast to the savory and spicy elements of the curry.

What is Chee Cheong Fun sauce made of? ›

The Penang Chee Cheong Fun is filled with a dipping sauce made of hoisin sauce, peanut sauce, and sweet shrimp paste. The Kuala Lumpur version is served with yong tau foo on the side and drizzled with soy sauce, sesame seeds, and green onion.

What is the brown sauce in Chinese restaurants made of? ›

Chinese brown sauce is a flavorful and versatile sauce used in many Chinese dishes. It's made from a mixture of oyster sauce, soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, and cornstarch. This sauce is often used in stir-fries to enhance the flavors of the dish.

What is Chee made from? ›

Boiled muah chee or mochi is a large version of a glutinous rice ball (tang yuan). It's made from glutinous rice flour and water then rolled into balls. They are cooked in a caramelized sugar water until they puff up.

What is Chinese capital sauce made of? ›

Beef fillet in Beijing (Capital) sauce is made with tender beef fillet slices that are marinated, coated with cornflour, and deep-fried until golden and crisp. The sauce is a rich and flavourful mixture of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and water.

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