Curried Chicken with Coconut Rice

serves 8

recipe from Everyday Food Magazine

  • 1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), cut into 10 pieces
  • 4 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • coarse salt
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger (from a 3-inch piece)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced small
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups basmati rice
  • 1 can (13.5 ounces) unsweetened light coconut milk
  • fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lower third. Toss chicken with curry powder, cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, heat 2 teaspoons oil over high. In batches, cook chicken until browned on all sides, about 12 minutes total. Transfer to a large plate

Reduce heat to medium and add 1 teaspoon salt the oil, garlic, ginger, and onion. Cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon, until onion is translucent, 6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add rice, coconut milk, and 2 cups water; stir to combine and bring to a boil. Arrange chicken in pot, skin side up, cover, and transfer to oven. Bake until chicken is cooked through and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.