Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry is a flavor packed dinner you can have on the table in minutes!

Coconut Curry on white plate

Put the lime in the coconut

Who doesn’t love lime and coconut together? This flavor combination is perfect with coconut milk, fresh lime and some simple spices…if you are trying to expand your cooking horizons, this is a great recipe to try. A little out of the ordinary, without being off the charts!

One skillet

Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry is a one skillet wonder (if you don’t count the rice), making dinner easy, simple and fuss-free. This recipe is perfect for busy nights and requires little effort, but is full of delicious flavor. I’m always looking for ways to make dinner easy, without compromising on quality. This dish is truly one of the best one-skillet meals I have made.

Shrimp, chicken or tofu

This recipe is versatile and easy to make using whatever you have available. Shrimp, chicken or tofu all work in this dish! The key is to not overcook. The method in this recipe calls for cooking the shrimp (or other protein) first, then removing from pan, sautéing a few spices and veggies, adding the coconut milk and simmering, and finally putting the cooked shrimp back into the sauce. We love it served over rice, with lime and cilantro for garnishing.  Also, you may change up the veggies I use in the recipe. My mom made curry regularly when I was young and always used potatoes, onions and carrots!

Easy Coconut Curry

Cooked vs raw shrimp

If you don’t have raw shrimp available, or you already have cooked shrimp that works as well. Just add the shrimp at the very end of the recipe and heat up in the sauce for the last 5 minutes while the sauce is thickening and coming to a gently boil. Frozen shrimp is often less expensive and more convenient. Raw shrimp is fresher and tends to hold flavor better than frozen shrimp. Either will work great in this Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe!

Easy Coconut Curry on white plate bowl of coconut curry and bowl with rice

Better than takeout

There is nothing wrong with take out, but when it comes to saving a little money and using up the food I already have, recipes like this Coconut Curry are a life saver. It might not be as easy as tapping your screen a few times to order food, but it definitely takes less time and tastes just as good, if not BETTER. The trick is to have all of your ingredients ready beforehand, then you can just toss them into the skillet accordingly and have a meal ready in 30 minutes or less!

A meal for everyone

This curry recipe is so full of flavor, it’s the perfect meal to adapt to your diet or preferences. Gluten-free, vegetarian, keto or low-carb? No problem! There are so many ways to make this meal fit for you and your family. We enjoy this Shrimp Curry over rice, but it’s delicious served over rice noodles, veggie noodles, potatoes or with naan. P.S. if you haven’t made naan, try this recipe for Homemade Naan for an easy way to get started. 

Easy Coconut Curry

Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry is such a simple family meal that anyone can make. It’s ideal for busy weeknights, easy to adapt, and is sure to become a new favorite in your home!

Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry

5 from 6 votes
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Easy Coconut Curry on white plate bowl of coconut curry and bowl with rice
Author: Si Foster
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry is a flavor packed dinner you can have on the table in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients 

  • Cooked rice for eating with curry
  • 1 lb raw shrimp OR chicken OR one package of firm tofu
  • 2 limes, juice of one lime about 1/4 cup lime juice plus one lime sliced for garnish*
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon butter, (optional but highly recommended)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or dried Chile peppers, more or less to adjust to preference
  • 2 cups white, sweet or yellow onion, in chunks
  • 8 oz mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, freshly grated or frozen minced
  • 1 14-15 oz can chopped tomatoes and juice, or about 2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
  • 1 cup chopped green onions, green parts only (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder or curry paste, (if not using tumeric or coriander, use 1.5-2 tsp curry)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon tumeric, (optional)
  • 1 can 13-14 oz can coconut milk, if using lite coconut milk, it will not be as thick
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar, (optional)
  • cilantro, 1/4 cup chopped for sauce, also extra chopped for garnish

Instructions

  • Cook rice, set aside until ready to serve dinner.
  • Using a large skillet, turn heat to medium high and add olive oil and butter. When oil is hot, add shrimp. Add salt and pepper and squeeze juice of one lime onto shrimp in pan. Cook just until shrimp turns pink, about 2-3 minutes each side. Remove cooked shrimp from pan and set aside.
  • Add cayenne or dried chiles to pan and stir until flavor releases, about 1 minute. Remove any dried chiles and discard or use as garnish.
  • Add chopped onion to pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes until the onions are softened.
  • Add mushrooms and cook for another 3-4 minutes until mushrooms are softened. Add additional salt and pepper to veggies in pan. Turn heat to medium and add garlic and cook just until fragrant, being careful to not burn garlic.
  • Add ginger, chopped or canned tomatoes, curry, coriander, turmeric and toss with vegetables in skillet.
  • Pour in coconut milk. Cook on medium heat until sauce is hot and bubbly. (If making a slurry to thicken sauce, add now. See recipe notes)
  • Add cooked shrimp to sauce. Add brown sugar if desired. Add 1/4 cup chopped cilantro to sauce, reserving some for top of dish.
  • Serve over rice, garnish with lime slices and chopped cilantro.

Notes

-Lemon juice may be substituted for lime juice.
-You may add any type of vegetable you like to this recipe. Chopped red pepper, green peppers, spinach, cooked potato, etc. 
-If you are using  “lite” or “light” coconut milk, you may thicken the sauce by using a little cornstarch. Pour  1/4 cup of the coconut milk into a measuring cup or bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and whisk. This is called a “slurry”. Add the remaining milk to the recipe as directed, and after the ingredients in the pan are heated, add the slurry in a slow stream to the pan. 
-Chop and prepare the veggies ahead for easy assembly just before making this dish. 

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!

Easy Coconut Curry