Spicy Brazilian Coconut Chicken Recipe
A flavorful Brazilian-inspired chicken stew featuring tender chicken chunks simmered in a spicy coconut milk sauce with bell peppers, aromatics, and fresh lime.
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Brazilian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into chunks
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1–2 chili peppers (e.g., jalapeño or serrano), chopped (adjust to spice preference)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (14 oz) full-fat coconut milk
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Season the chicken chunks with salt, cumin, paprika, and coriander. Set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and the onion is translucent.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in the sliced red and yellow bell peppers, along with the chopped chili peppers. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the bell peppers begin to soften slightly.
- Sear Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken chunks to the skillet. Sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides.
- Simmer in Coconut Sauce: Pour in the canned diced tomatoes and the full-fat coconut milk. Stir all the ingredients together, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through, and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from heat. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the chicken stew. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro for garnish.
- Serve hot with cooked rice.