Pad Prik King (Red Curry Chicken and Green Beans) Recipe
Pad Prik King is a flavorful Thai dish featuring tender chicken thighs cooked in a fragrant red curry paste with crisp green beans and aromatic makrut lime leaves. This quick and easy stir-fry delivers vibrant spices and a perfect balance of sweetness and savory notes, making it a delightful meal served over jasmine rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2-by-2-inch strips
Main Ingredients
- 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 to 4 tablespoons red curry paste
- 8 ounces long beans or green beans, cut into 1-inch segments (about 2 cups)
- 2 teaspoons oyster sauce (preferably Thai)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 12 makrut lime leaves, thinly sliced crosswise
To Serve
- Cooked jasmine rice
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, mix 2 tablespoons water with the cornstarch and salt until combined. Add the chicken pieces and stir vigorously, ensuring each piece is coated with the marinade. Set aside to let flavors meld.
- Prepare the Curry Paste Base: Heat the oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, add the red curry paste and mash it into the hot oil, cooking for about 3 minutes until the paste darkens, crumbles, and becomes aromatic.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the marinated chicken to the skillet and stir frequently, cooking until the chicken is no longer pink, approximately 4 minutes.
- Add Vegetables and Seasoning: Stir in the long beans, oyster sauce, and 1/4 cup water. Cook while stirring occasionally for 3 more minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and beans are tender-crisp.
- Final Flavor Touches: Add the sugar and sliced makrut lime leaves to the skillet and cook for an additional 1 minute, allowing the flavors to blend.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the Pad Prik King hot over cooked jasmine rice.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of red curry paste to control the spiciness of the dish.
- Makrut lime leaves add a distinctive citrus aroma; if unavailable, you can substitute with a small amount of lime zest.
- Long beans provide a nice crunch, but green beans are a suitable alternative.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the most tender and flavorful results.
- This dish pairs excellently with steamed jasmine rice for a complete meal.
Keywords: Pad Prik King, Thai red curry chicken, green beans, Thai curry, chicken stir-fry, red curry paste
