dinner

Paleo Coconut Curry

This Paleo Coconut Curry combines roasted vegetables with shredded chicken, spices and thick coconut milk for a filling, healthy and Whole30-approved meal!
I’ve been debating for three weeks now if I was going to do this. I decided not to. But here I am, writing about it anyways…

For the past 23 days, I’ve been following the Whole30 Diet. In case you’re not familiar with it, it’s similar to a Paleo diet…basically you can only eat vegetables, fruit, meat/seafood and some nuts and seeds for 30 days. No dairy. No grains of any kind. No sweeteners. No legumes (including peanuts and peanut butter…eeeek….the horror). Now that I’ve brought peanut butter into the equation, you’re all wondering if I’m crazy or suffering from a head trauma. No, I didn’t hit my head and no, I’m not crazy… (although on my 15th day of eggs for breakfast I did start wondering…)

People do this diet for a variety of reasons; mine is thanks to a mean digestive system that doesn’t seem to like me…I’m trying to figure out what could be causing these tummy troubles by eliminating inflammatory foods. I wasn’t going to bring any of this up on the blog, but after a while I realized that I was learning a lot from this challenge (and believe me, it’s been a challenge for this ice-cream, peanut butter, oatmeal-loving girl.) I realized that this blog is where I’m sharing my food journey, and these past few weeks have been quite the journey.

This Paleo Coconut Curry combines roasted vegetables with shredded chicken, spices and thick coconut milk for a filling, healthy and Whole30-approved meal!
For one, I’ve learned that real, WHOLE, “clean” food is a beautiful thing. I’ve learned to appreciate the natural sweetness of a butternut squash and the beautiful colors and flavors of red peppers, eggplant and spiralized carrots. I’ve learned that we eat A LOT of food that’s really not good for our bodies, whether we know it or not. For example, you head on over to Chick-Fil-A for some “all-natural and healthy” grilled chicken nuggets. Guess what people? Those innocent chicken nuggets are made with 30 different ingredients, some are just spices, but others include modified corn starch and corn maltodextrin. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not about to boycott Chick-Fil-A…I love that place. And I’m not about to give up ice cream and peanut butter for life. But, I truly appreciate these past few weeks I’ve had to really get in touch with the food I’m putting in my body.

Ok this is getting lengthy and you’re getting bored, so it’s time to get to the good stuff. The thing Whole30 has done most for me, is to make me think out of the box. It’s dragged me out of my food “comfort zone.” I’ve had to get really creative with my menu, because I’m just not satisfied with eating eggs and chicken for a month.

This recipe came together from some leftover chicken and roasted squash and botta-bing, botta-boom! This delicious Whole30-approved Paleo Coconut Curry was born.

This Paleo Coconut Curry combines roasted vegetables with shredded chicken, spices and thick coconut milk for a filling, healthy and Whole30-approved meal!  This Paleo Coconut Curry combines roasted vegetables with shredded chicken, spices and thick coconut milk for a filling, healthy and Whole30-approved meal!

Paleo Coconut Curry

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Serving Size: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp. coconut oil for roasting squash, melted
  • 2 cups butternut squash (about 1 medium-sized squash)
  • Sprinkle of salt, pepper and cinnamon for roasting squash
  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1 red pepper
  • 2 ½ cups chicken, shredded or cubed
  • 1 can coconut milk (unsweetened, full fat)
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. coriander
  • 2 tsp. dry onions
  • 2 tsp. turmeric
  • 1 Tbsp. Garam masala
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Toppings: cilantro, unsweetened shredded coconut and chopped cashew pieces

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450.
  2. Peel squash and cut in half. Scoop out all seeds. Cut into small cubes and toss with coconut oil, salt, pepper and a sprinkle of cinnamon,
  3. Spread squash on a baking sheet lined with foil and roast for 20-30 minutes, or until fork tender but not too soft.
  4. While squash is roasting, cook chicken and shred or cut into cubes.
  5. Dice red peppers and sauté in coconut oil until soft.
  6. Add spices, stir to coat peppers, heat for 1-2 minutes, until very fragrant.
  7. Mix in coconut milk, allow to simmer for 4-5 minutes
  8. Add in chicken and butternut squash, allow to warm.
  9. Top with cilantro, shredded coconut and chopped cashew pieces.

Notes

*Serve with white or brown rice. If following Whole30 diet, omit the rice or serve with cauliflower rice.

https://www.kiwiandcarrot.com/paleo-coconut-curry/

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35 Comments

  • Reply Cara March 1, 2016 at 8:54 am

    This looks delicious!! I actually might make this for my boyfriend and I tonight for dinner… thank you for sharing!!

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:29 pm

      Cara, I’m glad you like the look of it! If you do try it, we’d love to hear what you and your boyfriend think!

  • Reply Michelle Rogers March 1, 2016 at 9:01 am

    That looks so yummy! I definitely need to make this for my family. Thanks for posting!

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:30 pm

      Thanks Michelle! I hope your family likes it as much as we do 🙂

  • Reply Carol Cassara March 1, 2016 at 9:10 am

    I am not a Paleo dieter. But, this dish looks really good and like something my husband would also enjoy.

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      Carol, That’s the great thing about it. It’s Paleo-approved (so very good for you) but it still tastes great for any non-paleo eaters. Hope you and your husband enjoy it!

  • Reply Aimee March 1, 2016 at 10:24 am

    This looks yummy, I love coconut!

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      Aimee, I definitely agree with you about coconut. SO yummy!

  • Reply grace March 1, 2016 at 10:26 am

    fantastic! i’m one of the word’s biggest fans of coconut and this is a very unique and delicious way to consume it (in several forms!). 🙂

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      Grace,

      Right? Coconut is AMAZING. And coconut + curry is even better 🙂

  • Reply Becky @ DIsney in your Day March 1, 2016 at 10:28 am

    I don’t think I could do paleo full time, but I’m trying to add more whole/clean meals into my diet. I absolutely love coconut curry so I need to try this!

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:41 pm

      Becky, Ya Paleo full-time can be HARD haha. I definitely believe in all-things-in-moderation…your body will love you for eating “clean,” but life’s too short to not enjoy a little treat here and there! Hope you enjoy the curry!

  • Reply Valentina | The Baking Fairy March 1, 2016 at 11:12 am

    This looks fantastic! I’ve tried to do Whole30… more than once… and it’s just so hard for me as a dessert-centered food blogger 🙁 One day I’ll try again. If I get to eat amazing food like this curry every day, I might just manage it! 🙂 Pinning for later.

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      Valentina, I can’t even imagine how hard Whole30 would be as a baking blogger! I don’t think I’d make it either if I was baking cookies and cakes all day and couldn’t enjoy them haha. All things in moderation, right? You don’t have to go all-in Whole30, just try to add some more “clean” meals to your menu each week and enjoy your treats in between!

  • Reply Candy March 1, 2016 at 1:12 pm

    Need to buy some butternut squash to make this. Yum.

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Candy, if you end up making it, we’d love to hear what you think! Enjoy 🙂

  • Reply Linda @ 2 Cookin' Mamas March 1, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    Wow! This sounds absolutely delicious and just the type of food I like to cook for dinner. Good for you for sticking with the Whole30 diet as I am sure its been great for you. I’m going to remember this recipe for when my paleo-eating son and his family come to visit.

    • Reply Sarah March 1, 2016 at 10:32 pm

      Linda, I’m so glad you like the recipe! I hope your son and his family (and you of course!) like it when you try it! And thanks for the encouragement with the Whole30. It’s always helpful to have a cheerleader or two 🙂

  • Reply Jessica March 2, 2016 at 6:47 am

    I really want to try the Whole 30 diet, but my husband is so skeptical (and thinks we should wean ourselves off unhealthy foods – “going cold turkey would be bad for us” *side eye*). The biggest hurdle to me actually giving Whole 30 a go is that I’m not creative with foods at all and I really have no idea what I would actually eat every day. This post makes me want to try, though.

    • Reply Sarah March 2, 2016 at 10:20 am

      Jessica, I’m totally with you. I went back and forth for a solid month before starting it…should I do it? No. Yes. Gaaah. But once I actually committed, it was easier than I thought. The hardest part is that it does take some work and some serious meal planning. But that’s the fun part! There are soooo many resources on the internet to find good, delicious Whole30-approved meals. You just have to look for them! My husband isn’t doing it with me, but as long as he’s there to support me (“don’t eat that cookie, you’re already 15 days in…”) I’ve found that it’s manageable to do without your spouse. He just eats his own breakfasts and lunches, and then I make Whole30-approved dinners for both of us. They’re yummy, so he doesn’t complain. So, even if your husband isn’t 100% on board, it’s definitely possible for you to give it a try! If you decide to to it, send me an email and I’m happy to give you some more meal ideas! 🙂

  • Reply Miranda March 2, 2016 at 9:59 am

    That looks so good! I love curry. I have heard so much about the Whole 30. I don’t think I am prepared to take that on, but I sure can eat clean with recipes like these!

    • Reply Sarah March 2, 2016 at 10:21 am

      Miranda, isn’t that the best? You don’t have to fully commit to Whole30, but including some “clean” meals in your weekly menu can be a great start and yummy too! Hope you enjoy the curry 🙂

  • Reply Leslie Rossi | alifewellconsumed March 2, 2016 at 10:16 am

    yum! this looks really good 🙂

    • Reply Sarah March 2, 2016 at 10:22 am

      Thanks Leslie! Hope you enjoy it!

  • Reply Alissia Haggard March 2, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    I always love finding new paleo recipes! Thanks! Will be pinning for the future! 🙂

    • Reply Sarah March 2, 2016 at 2:50 pm

      Thanks for pinning Alissia! Hope you like the recipe 🙂

  • Reply DarkSideRunner March 9, 2016 at 8:11 pm

    This looks awesome! Did you know you can also get cauliflower rice at Trader Joe’s? (for those doing the Whole 30 and don’t want to go through the ‘mess’ that is making cauliflower rice)

    • Reply Sarah March 9, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      I saw that the other day! It’s on my shopping list for next time I’m there 🙂 Trader Joe’s is a LIFE SAVER.

  • Reply Kim March 21, 2016 at 8:24 am

    This sounds great! I am a little timid with things like curry but recipes like this motivate me to make it and try it out!

    • Reply Sarah March 21, 2016 at 8:58 am

      Kim, I totally understand. Curry can be intimidating, but this is SUCH an easy recipe with minimal ingredients, you should give it a try! 🙂

  • Reply Joyce April 3, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    I think I need to try this! Looks delicious!!

    • Reply Sarah April 3, 2016 at 9:01 pm

      Joyce, It really is a yummy one! Super easy to make too. If you try it, let us know how you like it!

  • Reply Vanessa April 3, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    Curry is my favorite and this looks so good!

    • Reply Sarah April 3, 2016 at 9:01 pm

      Vanessa, I agree with you there. Curry is the BEST! Give it a try and let us know how you like it 🙂

  • Reply Emily April 12, 2016 at 8:43 am

    I’m lucky my kids love curry. I will be adding this to our menu!

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