Description
A vibrant, Brazilian‑style chicken dish simmered in a spicy coconut milk sauce infused with peppers, garlic, and lime—perfect served over rice or with crusty bread.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 lb (about 900 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1‑in pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 fresh hot peppers (like malagueta or jalapeño), seeded and sliced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 can (14 oz/400 ml) coconut milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (plus extra for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium‑high. Add chicken pieces and brown on all sides, about 5–7 min. Transfer to a plate.
- To same pan, add onion and sauté 3–4 min until translucent. Stir in garlic and sliced peppers; cook 1–2 min until fragrant.
- Mix in cumin, paprika, smoked paprika (if using), salt, and pepper; cook 30 sec.
- Stir in tomato paste, then pour in coconut milk and broth; scrape up browned bits.
- Return chicken to pan, bring to gentle simmer, reduce heat to medium‑low. Cover and simmer 10–12 min until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more lime if desired.
- Garnish with extra cilantro and serve hot over rice, quinoa, or with bread.
Notes
- Malagueta peppers give authentic Brazilian heat; substitute jalapeño or serrano if unavailable.
- For a richer sauce, substitute half coconut milk with coconut cream.
- Can be made mild by omitting seeds from peppers.
- Leftovers store up to 4 days in fridge; sauce may thicken—thin with splash of broth when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg