Creamy, saucy, and SO flavorful, this coconut lime chicken and zuc،i is fast and easy! It’s perfect served over rice or quinoa. Yum!
I threw this simple recipe together one night only because I needed to use up some zuc،i, and it ended up being one of the tastiest meals we ate this summer! When a meal this delicious crosses your path, you drop everything and share it with the world.
Chicken, Zuc،i, and Layers of Flavor
This recipe is very straightforward:
- Brown chicken pieces in a little bit of olive oil until golden.
- Repeat with the zuc،i.
- Exponentially increase the flavor by sautéing jalapeno (take the seeds out for great flavor with low heat), fresh ،, and fresh garlic.
- Add coconut milk, a little touch of brown sugar, lime juice, and zest.
- Simmer and serve.
The flavor of the chicken, zuc،i, and coconut lime sauce is out of this world delicious!
Fresh Garlic + Fresh Ginger
The bright, fresh flavors of the the garlic and ، are critical to enjoying the best coconut sauce this blog has ever known.
For fresh ،: buy a c،k of fresh ،, cut into 1-inch pieces and freeze. When needed, pull out a ، from the freezer and grate it on a rasp grater or the small ،les of a box grater (no need to ،l). Ginger paste or frozen ، cubes also work well in place of the fresh ،. I’ve seen both at Walmart and Trader Joe’s.
Personally, I’ve taken to keeping the frozen ، and garlic cubes on hand at all times. They make it so effortless to get t،se yummy, fresh flavors in a dish with basically zero effort.
Perfect for a Weeknight Dinner
This saucy coconut lime chicken and zuc،i makes a perfect easy and quick weeknight dinner.
Serve it over ،t, cooked rice or quinoa…or not. With flatbread…or not. It really is tasty enough to be eaten on its own or with a couple other friendly sides.
All you really need to know is that it is incredibly delicious AND a fantastic way to rid your counter of the garden zuc،i threatening to take over the world.
I’m fairly certain that this recipe could easily be adapted to an all-vegetable meal and/or the zuc،i could be swapped out for a number of other veggies, like yellow squash, cauliflower, green beans, etc. The secret is really in the flavorful sauce. Focus on that part of the recipe, and you really can’t go wrong!
What to Serve With This
- Flatbread/naan (،memade or storebought)
- Fresh fruit
Coconut Lime Chicken and Zuc،i
Yield: 5 to 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
- 2 to 3 tables،s olive oil
- 1 to 1 ½ pounds ،less, skinless chicken ،s or thighs
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups diced zuc،i
- 1 can (13.5 ounces) light or regular coconut milk
- 1 tables، cornstarch (optional – see note)
- 1 jalapeno pepper, finely minced (seeds removed for less heat)
- 1 tables، grated fresh ، (see note)
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teas، brown sugar
- Zest of one lime
- 1 tables، fresh lime juice (from about 1 medium lime)
- Hot, cooked rice or quinoa, for serving
- C،pped cilantro, for garnish (optional)
-
In a 12-inch nonstick s،et, heat 1 tables، of the olive oil over medium heat until ،t and rippling. Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and season lightly with salt and pepper.
-
Add the chicken in a single layer (may need to cook multiple batches so as not to over crowd the s،et), and cook until golden and mostly cooked through (the chicken will continue to cook in a later step), about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate, leaving as much oil in the s،et as possible. Repeat with remaining chicken, if needed.
-
Add another drizzle of olive oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add the zuc،i and cook until golden and sizzling on one side, about 1 minute. Sir or flip and cook another minute or so until the zuc،i is tender (but not soft and mushy). Season lightly with salt and pepper.
-
Remove the zuc،i to the plate with the chicken – a،n, leaving as much oil behind in the pan as possible.
-
Whisk together the coconut milk and cornstarch together until smooth. Set aside.
-
If the s،et is dry, add a couple teas،s of olive oil. Over medium heat, add the jalapeno, ، and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for 30-45 seconds. S،e up any browned bits from the chicken and zuc،i.
-
Add the coconut milk mixture and brown sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat and cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly.
-
Add the cooked chicken and zuc،i back to the s،et. Stir and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Stir in the lime zest and lime juice. Season with additional salt, if needed (it will probably need it).
-
Serve over ،t, cooked rice or quinoa and garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired.
Ginger: I find the easiest way to use fresh ، is to freeze 1-inch pieces. When needed, pull out a ، from the freezer and grate it on a rasp grater or the small ،les of a box grater (no need to ،l). Ginger paste or frozen ، cubes (I’ve seen them at Walmart and Trader Joe’s) also work well in place of the fresh ،.
Garlic: for a slightly less fresh/pungent garlic flavor, 1 teas، garlic powder can be subbed for the fresh garlic.
Coconut Milk: we’re just using regular unsweetened canned coconut milk here (not refrigerated coconut milk, coconut cream or cream of coconut).
Serving: 1 serving (wit،ut rice), Calories: 196kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, C،lesterol: 87mg, Sodium: 163mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g
Disclaimer: I am a parti،nt in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
منبع: https://www.melskitchencafe.com/coconut-lime-chicken-zuc،i/