This Trader Joe’s Yellow Curry is a creamy and easy recipe, which is made with chicken breast and potatoes. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner, ready in about 50 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Yellow Curry Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 medium gold potatoes, cubed
- 1 large carrot, thinly sliced
- 3-4 Tablespoons yellow curry paste
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 27 ounces coconut milk (2 13.5-ounce cans)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
- Hot cooked rice, for serving
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
How To Make Trader Joe’s Yellow Curry
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onion and sauté for a few minutes until softened.
- Cook the Chicken and Veggies: Add the chicken, carrots, and potatoes and cook for a minute or two. Stir in the fresh ginger, garlic, and yellow curry paste and sauté for 3 more minutes until fragrant.
- Simmer the Curry: Pour 1 ½ cans of the coconut milk into the pot. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch into the remaining ½ can of coconut milk to create a smooth slurry, then add it to the pot.
- Cook until Tender: Bring the curry to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the fish sauce (if using), brown sugar, and lime juice. Let it simmer for 5 more minutes for the flavors to meld. Serve hot over a bed of steamed rice, garnished with fresh cilantro.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the most flavor out of the curry paste? The most important step is to “bloom” the curry paste. Sautéing it with the ginger and garlic in the hot oil for a few minutes before adding the liquid is what releases all its fragrant, aromatic flavors.
- How can I make this vegan or vegetarian? This recipe is easy to adapt! Simply omit the chicken and fish sauce. For a protein source, you can add a can of rinsed and drained chickpeas or some cubed firm tofu during the last 10 minutes of simmering.
- How do I control the spice level? Yellow curry paste is generally the mildest of the Thai curries. The spice level can vary by brand. Start with 3 tablespoons and you can always add more at the end if you’d like more heat.
- Can I add other vegetables? Absolutely. This curry is a great way to use up vegetables. Chunks of bell pepper, broccoli florets, or a handful of fresh spinach stirred in at the end would all be delicious additions.
What To Serve With Yellow Curry
This is a classic one-pot meal that is perfect served over a bed of hot, fluffy rice to soak up all the delicious sauce. The best rice choices are:
- Jasmine rice (the most traditional)
- White or brown rice
- Quinoa, for a healthier, higher-protein option
How To Store Yellow Curry
- Refrigerate: For the best results, store the yellow curry sauce separately from the rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 3-4 days and the flavor is often even better the next day.
- Freeze: The curry sauce freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely and freeze it in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. It’s best to cook the rice fresh when you’re ready to serve.
Yellow Curry Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 serving
- Calories: 640kcal
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Protein: 31g
- Fat: 48g
- Sodium: 298mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Fish sauce is a staple condiment in Southeast Asian cooking, made from fermented fish. It adds a deep, savory, umami flavor to the curry that is hard to replicate. It is optional, but highly recommended for an authentic taste.
It is completely normal for canned coconut milk to separate, with a thick, solid layer of cream on top and a thin, watery liquid on the bottom. Shaking the can vigorously before opening, or simply whisking it together in the pot as it heats up, will make it smooth and creamy again.
You can, but the curry will be much less rich and creamy. For the most authentic and decadent Thai curry, full-fat coconut milk from a can is highly recommended.
Try More Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Sirloin Steak Tips Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Trader Joe’s Yellow Curry Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: ThaiDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes40
minutes640
kcalA rich and creamy Thai yellow curry with tender chicken, potatoes, and carrots, all simmered in a fragrant coconut milk sauce.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tbsp oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 medium gold potatoes, cubed & 1 large carrot, sliced
3-4 Tbsp yellow curry paste
2 tsp grated ginger & 2 cloves garlic
2 (13.5 oz) cans coconut milk
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp fish sauce (optional)
1 Tbsp lime juice & 1.5 tbsp brown sugar
Cooked rice, for serving
Directions
- In a large pot, sauté the onion in oil. Add the chicken, carrots, and potatoes and cook for a minute.
- Stir in the ginger, garlic, and curry paste and cook for 3 minutes until fragrant.
- Whisk the cornstarch into ½ can of coconut milk.
- Add the cornstarch slurry and the remaining 1 ½ cans of coconut milk to the pot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the chicken and potatoes are cooked through.
- Stir in the fish sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice and simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Serve hot over steamed rice.
Notes
- The most important tip for a flavorful curry is to “bloom” the curry paste by sautéing it in the oil with the aromatics before adding any liquid.
- For the richest, creamiest sauce, it is essential to use full-fat coconut milk from a can, not from a carton.
- The fish sauce, while optional, adds a crucial depth of savory, umami flavor that is key to authentic Thai curries.
- This curry is a perfect make-ahead meal, as the flavors become even more developed and delicious the next day.
