🍛 Spiced Coconut Basil Chicken 🌿

A comforting dish that brings a touch of exotic flair to your family dinner table! Perfect for busy weeknights.

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 lb (450g) chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Cooked jasmine rice or basmati rice, for serving
- Fresh lime wedges, for garnish

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳
1. Start by heating olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken pieces, cooking until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
2. In the same skillet, sauté onion, garlic, and ginger until they are softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Stir in curry powder, cumin, paprika, and turmeric, cooking for 1 minute to release their flavors.
4. Add coconut milk, soy sauce, fish sauce (if using), and brown sugar to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
5. Return the chicken to the skillet, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
6. Mix in the fresh basil and simmer for an additional 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve the chicken over steamed rice, garnished with lime wedges for an added zesty flavor.

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎
- Calories: 375
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 26g
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Sodium: 850mg (varies with fish sauce usage)
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 5g

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡
- For a lighter version, use light coconut milk.
- If you prefer a vegetarian dish, substitute chicken with tofu or chickpeas.
- To enhance the spice level, add a chopped chili pepper with the garlic and ginger.

⏳ Preparation time ⏳
Preparation time: 10 minutes | Cooking time: 25 minutes | Serving: 4