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Tag: coconut milk

Healthy South Indian Style Lemon Rice

This is a great dish to eat as a snack or as a starch in a meal- the best part is that they are super healthy. I used brown rice and no one could tell!!

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1½ cups brown rice
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons urad dal
  • 2 teaspoons channa dal
  • 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
  • 10-12 curry leaves
  • 2-3 dried red chilies
  • A pinch of asafetida
  • ½ cup peanuts, roasted
  • 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Salt to taste

Heat a saucepan with the oil and butter. Add the rice and sauté on medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the coconut milk, turmeric, water and salt. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer, partially covered for 20 minutes. Once the liquid is cooked from the surface, lower the heat and place lid. Cook for another 15 minutes or till the rice is cooked through but not mushy.  Cool the rice off once cooked and keep aside.

In a large wok like pan, heat the oil.  Add the urad and channa dal and sauté for about 30 seconds on medium heat.  Add the mustard seeds and curry leaves and saute for another minute.  Next, add the red chilies and asafetida.  Add the cooked and cooled rice.  Mix well.  Add the peanuts, lemon juice and salt.  Mix well and serve.

 

 

 

Rice Noodles with Shrimp Curry and Chinese Broccoli

  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 8 allspice berries

Toast the spices in a dry cast iron pan on medium heat until fragrant and grind in a spice mill. Keep aside.

  • 1 pound rice noodles, cooked according to package directions. Drizzle a bit of oil, mix well and keep aside.
  •  2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons lemongrass, chopped finely
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Juice and zest of one large lime
  • Salt
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 14 ounces can of coconut milk
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 bunch Chinese broccoli, chopped
  • 3 green onion, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

Heat a wok like pan with the coconut oil. Add the onion and sauté on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the lemongrass, garlic and ginger and cook for another 4 minutes. Add the spice mix, turmeric, cayenne pepper, juice and zest of lime, salt, fish sauce and coconut milk. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the Chinese broccoli and shrimp and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Check for seasonings and add the green onion, mint, cilantro and basil.

Dip the noodles briefly in hot water, drain and add some to each serving bowl. Top with the shrimp curry and serve warm.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Coconut Milk

Okay, maybe a few more warm weather recipes.. although one can make this in the oven, under the broiler. The flavors are yummy with coconut milk, cilantro and lime! I served it with a summer salsa but go ahead and use whichever fruit is in season… I still see mangos and nectarines in the store…get them while they last!

  • One 1½ pound pork tenderloin, cleaned
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup fresh coconut, cut into pieces
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, deseeded and chopped
  • Juice of one lime
  • Zest of one lime
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Transfer all the ingredients to a blender and blend till a smooth sauce is formed. Place the tenderloin and the marinade in a zip lock and marinate for 2 to 3 hours.

Take out of the marinade and pat dry with some paper towels. Pour the marinade in a saucepan and bring to a boil and keep aside. Grill or cook the tenderloin till it reaches an internal temperature of 145. Let it rest for a good 15 minutes, covered with aluminum foil.

Nectarine and Mango Salsa

  • 1 nectarine, chopped
  • 1 mango, chopped
  • 1 pepper (any color), chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, minced
  • Juice of one lime
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 to 2 teaspoon salt

Mix all the ingredients in a serving bowl. Check for seasonings and serve on top of the sliced tenderloin.

Chicken and Bok Choy Thai Green Curry

I think I am currently obsessed with Asian food.. I love it and love cooking it…You could buy a jar of green curry from the store or you could make your own.. the one from scratch is way yummier!!!

  • 2 chicken breasts, sliced thin
  • Zest of one lime
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra light olive oil

Marinate the chicken slices in the lime zest, salt and oil. Mix well and let it sit for 2 to 3 hours.

Green curry

  • 2 to 3 fresh lemon grass stalks, trimmed, the ends smashed and chopped fine (I used frozen chopped lemon grass)
  • 2 inch piece of galangal, chopped (you can substitute with fresh 1 inch fresh ginger)
  • 2 to 3 kaffir lime leaves (substitute with zest of 1 lime)
  • Zest of 1 lime (use 2 limes all together if kaffir limes leaves are not being used)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 serrano chili, deseeded and chopped
  • 1 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Place all the ingredients in a mortar and pestle. Pound till a paste is formed. Keep aside.

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons palm sugar or 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 2 teaspoons chili sauce (your favorite)
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 large red, orange or yellow pepper, sliced
  • 4 to 5 baby bok choy, sliced in quarters
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a saucepan with the oil. Add the curry paste and sauté on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the coconut milk, chicken broth, palm sugar, fish sauce and chili sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the chicken slices and poach on a medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a platter and keep aside. Continue to simmer and add the peppers and the bok choy. Cook for another 5 minutes. Return the chicken back to the curry and finish cooking, making sure the chicken is not over cooked. Garnish with cilantro.

Thai Fried Rice with Red Curry Chicken

This is a delicious meal to make either through the week or on the weekend- maybe this would be a great Sunday meal as it is a bit involved with quite a few ingredients.. but it is worth it!

  • 1 pound chicken thighs, skinless and boneless, cut in 2 inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons red curry paste
  • Juice of a lime
  • 1 tablespoon tamari
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil

Marinate the chicken pieces in the red curry paste, lime juice, tamari, honey and salt for at least 2 hours, ideally 6 to 8 hours. Keep aside.

Transfer to a lined cookie sheet, drizzle with peanut oil and broil till both sides are brown. Change the oven to bake and finish baking the chicken till cooked through.

Rice

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  • 11/2 cups brown rice, rinsed
  • Juice of half a lime
  • 4 cups water or broth
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Heat a pan with the butter and oil. Add the rice and sauté on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lime juice, water and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer partially covered with a lid until the moisture is cooked off on the surface, about 5 to 10 minutes. Lower the heat and cover and cook for another 30 minutes or till the rice is cooked through. Transfer to a platter to cool.

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter, softened
  • Juice of a lime
  • 3 tablespoons sweet garlic chili sauce
  • 3 tablespoons coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and keep aside.

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 inch ginger, grated
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 cup shelled and cooked edamame
  • 1 orange pepper, chopped
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped

Add the cilantro, green onions and salt to the beaten eggs and keep aside. Heat a wok like pan with the oil. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté on medium heat for a minute. Add the carrots, edamame and the orange pepper. Saute on medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Create a round space in the middle of the pan by moving the veggies aside and pour the egg mixture in the middle of the pan and stir on medium heat and slowly incorporate all the vegetables.  Mix well and add the cooled brown rice. Mix well. Add the peanut sauce and check for seasonings. Mix well and serve with the chicken and chopped peanuts on top.

 

Fish Stew with Coconut Milk

This is a great stew to make through the week since it doesn’t take very long. It is also good to incorporate fish into your diet and this is a great way to eat delicious fish in a delicious stew! I served it with some forbidden rice- recipe coming tomorrow…

  • 1 to 1½ pounds filets of firm white fish, cut into large fillets
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Marinate fish with the garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Keep aside for about half an hour.

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onions, chopped
  • 4 green onion, chopped
  • 1 large red pepper, chopped
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 14 ounce can coconut milk
  • Salt

Add the oil to a large saucepan. Add the onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat. Add the green onion and red pepper and sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and smoked paprika. Saute for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the cilantro and coconut milk. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the fish fillets and simmer until cooked through, making sure not to overcook the fish. Adjust seasoning and serve with rice.

South Indian Style Quinoa

This one is genius- if I do say so myself… the flavors are yum and the whole things is super healthy!

 

I made this dish with the chicken curry and the whole meal was delicious!

  • 1 cup white quinoa
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Bring the coconut milk, lemon juice and salt to a boil in a small pan. Add the quinoa and cook according to package directions.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • ½ cup raw peanuts, rough chop
  • 3 to 4 green onions, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 7 to 8 curry leaves, chopped
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt to taste

Heat a wok like pan with the oil. Add the peanuts, green onions, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves to the pan. Saute on medium heat for a minute or two, until the spices become aromatic. Add the frozen peas and the quinoa. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the lemon juice and salt. Taste for seasonings and serve.