Chicken with Coconut Cilantro Sauce

Adapted from Food Network's recipe Baked Tilapia with Coconut-Cilantro Sauce
Chicken with coconut cilantro sauce is a healthy and flavorful recipe that's easy to whip up any weeknight.  The coconut milk, garam masala and cilantro all combine to create a delicious taste that's out of the ordinary.  I used chicken thighs for extra flavor, but chicken breasts will also work.  
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Ingredients
  • 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (chicken breasts will work as well)
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup light coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1 tsp peeled and chopped fresh ginger (ginger paste in the tube works equally as well)
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala (found on the spice aisle)
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 3 cup cooked brown rice (use left over coconut milk as part of rice cooking liquid)
Instructions
  1. Begin cooking your rice according to package directions or rice cooker instructions. I like to use the leftover coconut milk to cook the rice. It adds a nice complementary flavor to the dish.
  2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with canola oil spray. Remove any excess fat from the chicken thighs, sprinkle with the salt and place in the pan.
  3. Combine the coconut milk, cilantro, ginger, garam masala, garlic and jalapeno in a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. I find my Nutri-Bullet works extremely well for this as well. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees, about 20-25 minutes. Serve over the rice and don't forget to spoon extra spoonfuls of the delicious sauce. Enjoy!