This easy chicken curry is full of flavor and made with simple ingredients. The chicken is cooked in a creamy curry sauce with yogurt, coconut milk, and warm spices. It’s perfect for dinner with rice or naan bread.
Jump to RecipeIngredients Needed:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
- ½ teaspoon white sugar
- salt to taste
- 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
How To Make Chicken Curry Recipe?
- Heat the oil: Warm the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it turns light brown.
- Add spices: Stir in the garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, bay leaf, ginger, sugar, and some salt. Cook while stirring for 2 minutes to bring out the flavor.
- Add chicken and sauces: Add the chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk. Stir well and bring everything to a boil.
- Simmer: Lower the heat and let it simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Finish the curry: Take out the bay leaf, then stir in the lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Let it simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Serve: Serve the curry hot with rice or naan and enjoy.

Recipe Tips:
- Cook the spices before adding chicken: Always let the garlic and spices cook in oil for at least 2 minutes. This helps bring out their full flavor and makes the curry taste rich, not raw.
- Don’t rush the simmering: Let the curry simmer gently for at least 20 minutes. This helps the chicken absorb the flavors and makes the sauce thick and tasty.
- Use room temperature yogurt: Cold yogurt can be split into hot curry. Let it sit out for a few minutes before adding, and stir it in slowly to keep the sauce smooth.
- Grate fresh ginger, don’t chop: Grated ginger blends better into the sauce and gives a stronger, more even flavor in every bite.
- Finish with lemon and cayenne at the end: Adding these at the end keeps the flavor fresh, and bright, and gives a nice kick without overpowering the curry.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: First, let the leftover chicken curry cool until it reaches room temperature. Then, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Let the curry cool fully, then place it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Pour the curry into a pan and heat on medium, stirring often, until it’s fully hot. Add a splash of water or coconut milk if the sauce feels too thick.
Nutrition Facts :
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Total Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
- Sodium: 320mg
- Potassium: 620mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 10g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 5g
- Protein: 30g
Try More James Martin Recipes:
James Martin Chicken Curry Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: British-IndianDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes25
minutes370
kcalThis easy chicken curry is full of flavor and made with simple ingredients. The chicken is cooked in a creamy curry sauce with yogurt, coconut milk, and warm spices. It’s perfect for dinner with rice or naan bread.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
½ teaspoon white sugar
salt to taste
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup plain yogurt
¾ cup coconut milk
½ lemon, juiced
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
- Heat the oil: Warm the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it turns light brown.
- Add spices: Stir in the garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, bay leaf, ginger, sugar, and some salt. Cook while stirring for 2 minutes to bring out the flavor.
- Add chicken and sauces: Add the chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk. Stir well and bring everything to a boil.
- Simmer: Lower the heat and let it simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Finish the curry: Take out the bay leaf, then stir in the lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Let it simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Serve: Serve the curry hot with rice or naan and enjoy.
Notes
- Cook the spices before adding chicken: Always let the garlic and spices cook in oil for at least 2 minutes. This helps bring out their full flavor and makes the curry taste rich, not raw.
- Don’t rush the simmering: Let the curry simmer gently for at least 20 minutes. This helps the chicken absorb the flavors and makes the sauce thick and tasty.
- Use room temperature yogurt: Cold yogurt can be split into hot curry. Let it sit out for a few minutes before adding, and stir it in slowly to keep the sauce smooth.
- Grate fresh ginger, don’t chop: Grated ginger blends better into the sauce and gives a stronger, more even flavor in every bite.
- Finish with lemon and cayenne at the end: Adding these at the end keeps the flavor fresh, and bright, and gives a nice kick without overpowering the curry.