Tropical Dreaming Chicken

Time :30 minutes
Yield :4 servings

Recipe Background

It's a chicken that dreams of warm sandy beaches and turquoise waters... and with a bite, you will be, too! Tropical Dreaming Chicken is golden, savory, juicy chicken braised in a lightly spicy and creamy coconut and tomato sauce for the full island life experience! A hint of sweet, tangy lime and fragrant cilantro elevates Tropical Dreaming Chicken even further, so this will be the dinner you're dreaming of for a long time to come!
It's a chicken that dreams of warm sandy beaches and turquoise waters... and with a bite, you will be, too! Tropical Dreaming Chicken is golden, savory, juicy chicken braised in a lightly spicy and creamy coconut and tomato sauce for the full island life experience! A hint of sweet, tangy lime and fragrant cilantro elevates Tropical Dreaming Chicken even further, so this will be the dinner you're dreaming of for a long time to come!

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken cutlets
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil or vegetable oil divided
  • 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño stemmed and seeded, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 4 teaspoons ginger peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 large ripe beefsteak tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 (15-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves coarsely chopped, for serving
  • lime slices optional, to taste, for garnish

Directions

  • Season the chicken cutlets on all sides with the paprika, the salt, and the black pepper.
  • In a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil.
  • In batches, add the chicken cutlets to the hot oil, and cook, turning them halfway through, until they are golden-brown on both sides but not fully cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.
  • Transfer the chicken cutlets to a plate and repeat until all of the cutlets are cooked.
  • In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining oil.
  • Add the onions to the hot oil and cook, while stirring occasionally, until the onions are slightly tender and just starting to turn golden, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the jalapeño, the garlic, and the ginger to the onions and cook, while stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Add the tomatoes and the tomato paste to the onion mixture and cook, while stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened and the tomato paste is slightly toasted, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the coconut milk and the brown sugar to the tomato mixture and stir to combine.
  • Bring the sauce mixture to a boil.
  • Cook the sauce mixture, while stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the flavors meld together.
  • Nestle the seared cutlets into the sauce and bring the sauce to a boil.
  • Boil until the chicken cutlets reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Transfer the skillet from the heat.
  • Add the lime juice to the sauce and stir to combine.
  • Serve topped with the cilantro and the lime slices.
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