Skip to main content

Coconut Sauce

4.4

(6)

If most of the coconut sauces you've encountered have been heavy and cloying, this one — light and frothy, with delicate flavor — will be a delicious surprise. It would also be perfect for spicing up poached skinless boneless chicken.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Pistachio Sea Bass with Crab Salad and Coconut Sauce .

Cooks' note:

Sauce can be made (but not blended) 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat and blend just before serving.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups chicken stock or broth
1 (14- to 15-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
1 chicken leg (10 to 12 ounce), cut into drumstick and thigh and skin discarded
1 stalk fresh lemongrass, 1 or 2 tough outer leaves discarded and root end trimmed
1 (2- by 1 1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 small (1 1/2- to 2-inch) dried chile (preferably Thai), halved lengthwise and seeds discarded

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring stock, coconut milk, and chicken to a boil in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes.

    Step 2

    Crush lemongrass stalk with side of a heavy knife (to release oils), then thinly slice. Add lemongrass, ginger, and chile to coconut mixture and bring to a boil. Remove pan from heat and let stand, covered, 30 minutes.

    Step 3

    Pour sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids, then return to pan and bring to a boil. Season with salt. Blend sauce in a blender until frothy, about 30 seconds (use caution when blending hot liquids). Serve immediately.

Read More
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Punchy, make-ahead chimichurri adds a bright, fresh finish to this easy summer dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
The secret to juicy grilled chicken, a sheet-cake swap for banana pudding, and more reasons to light up the grill and have people over all summer long.