Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (2024)

FAQs

How to make chicken very soft and tender? ›

For every 250g/8oz chicken breast strips or pieces, toss with 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carb) Marinate for 20 minutes. Rinse well under running water, pat with paper towel to remove excess water. Cook per chosen recipe and marvel at the most tender chicken breast you've ever had, just like at Chinese restaurants!!!

I usually use a lite can of coconut milk when I'm cooking things like curries, soups, and savory sauces, as well as when I use a dairy-free milk in my baked goods. You can absolutely use a full fat coconut milk to add an even creamier texture to your dish – it's all up to you!

The best tenderizer though, is a salted yogurt marinade. The salt has the same effect as in a regular brine, but the lactic acid in the yogurt further tenderizes the meat. A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable.

Pounding the meat with a mallet (or other utensil/tool) is the fastest way to tenderize chicken.

Adding coconut milk to marinades helps tenderizes meat and infuses it with flavor. Once your protein has had time to soak up the flavor, grill, roast, or sear as you would normally. Combine coconut milk with peanuts to make the very popular Thai dipping sauce, satay.

By adding vanilla and sea salt we get a depth of flavor that canned coconut milk just can't offer. When I was drinking store-bought non-dairy milk, I loved the 'unsweetened vanilla' versions. They have that delicious vanilla flavor but they don't have any added sugar.

Both coconut juice and milk are considered safe to consume and are commonly used in various culinary preparations. If you don't experience any discomfort or allergic reactions to coconut or milk individually, combining them accidentally should not pose any health risks.

Canned Coconut Milk Is Creamier And Best Used For Cooking

It also comes with additives that stabilize the liquid, like guar gum. When opening a can, it's common to see a layer of solidified coconut cream that has settled on top of the liquid. That's because the milk's saturated fats turn firm at room temperature.

Coconut milk adds richness and depth of flavor to soups, curries, and stews. Its natural fat content tames spices of all levels, turning down the heat while retaining flavor. Coconut milk is also an excellent dairy-free way to make the creamiest vegetable soups—simply substitute equal amounts of it for milk or cream.

Should you mix canned coconut milk? ›

Canned coconut milk is widely available and inexpensive. But you will need to stir or shake it. The fatty “cream” will rise to the top of the can over time, creating a dense layer that needs to be mixed back into the watery liquid below.

Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

We recommend marinating your chicken in buttermilk or yogurt overnight, but if it's urgent, then an hour will do. However, the texture of the chicken won't be as even as chicken marinated overnight. The process is simple: you only have to immerse the chicken in a container with enough yogurt or buttermilk and seal it.

Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

Chinese stir-fried chicken is extra tender due to the velveting technique. Chicken is sliced into thin, even-sized pieces and then marinated briefly in a mix of baking soda, cornstarch, wine, and seasoning. This seals in moisture and tenderizes the chicken.

Braise it. Low and slow braising will help make almost any meat fall apart tender (though dark meat is best, thighs/legs).