Green Curry Salmon with Coconut Rice Recipe

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ByJi-hyun

Green Curry with Salmon and Coconut Rice is a delightful dish that combines the creaminess of coconut milk with the bold flavors of green curry and tender salmon laid on top of perfect and fluffy rice. This rice recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions when you want to impress. This delicious and easy meal is also packed with nutrients, making it a win-win for your taste buds and health. 

Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to creating this rice recipe, complete with tips and tricks to perfect your cooking.

Green Curry Salmon Coconut Rice Recipe Ingredients

Coconut Rice

  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Green Curry and Salmon

  • 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each)
  • 2 tablespoons green curry paste
  • 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
  • 2 cups chopped baby spinach
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon low-salt soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil (or a neutral oil)
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish
  • Lime wedges, for serving

How to Make Thai Green Curry with Coconut Milk Rice

  1. Cook rice first. Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch, ensuring the rice cooks up fluffy.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, water, coconut milk, and salt. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat.
  3. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
  4. Gently fold and add spinach, cilantro, and a pinch of salt and pepper to the rice. If the rice looks dry and threatens to stick to the bottom of the pot, stir in 2 to 4 tablespoons of water.
  5. Remove the pan from the heat and let the rice rest for 5 minutes with the lid on. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
  6. In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
  7. Add the green curry paste to the pan. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir and cook the mixture for a minute more to release its flavors. 
  8. Pour in the coconut milk, stirring to combine it with the curry paste. Add the fish sauce, soy, sugar, and lime juice. Allow it to simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  9. Pat the salmon filets dry with a paper towel. 
  10. Gently place the salmon filets into the simmering curry paste mixture, skin side down. Cover the skillet and pan sear for 6-8 minutes, or until the salmon filets are cooked through and flake easily with a fork.
  11. While cooking, spoon some of the curry paste over the salmon to enhance its flavor. Taste and add salt if needed.
  12. Spoon a generous portion of coconut rice onto each plate.
  13. Carefully place a salmon fillet on top of the rice.
  14. Pour some of the curry mixture over the salmon and rice to make it even more flavorful.
  15. Garnish the salmon and rice with freshly chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges on the side for a burst of freshness.

Green Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk Rice Recipe Tips

  • Rinsing rice is highly important as it gets rid of the excess starch, dust, and debris on the rice grains. 
  • Instead of cooking the rice on the stove, you can also cook it using a rice cooker. Simply add in the rice, water, coconut milk, and a pinch of salt and pepper in the rice cooker’s inner pot, and then start the cooking process.
  • This delicious recipe uses white jasmine rice, but other types of rice will result in a delicious dish as well. If you cook this recipe using brown rice, you may have to double the amount of liquid. 
  • Instant rice may also work well with this dish. To cook instant rice, simply follow the package directions.
  • For this recipe, you can also cook the salmon in a rice cooker. Simply place the salmon in the inner pot, along with the coconut rice to soften it up. Take it out of the rice cooker once the rice is done. Finish cooking the salmon on the stove along with the curry paste mixture.
  • Baking the salmon in an oven is a good method as well. Lay out the salmon on a baking sheet and season it with a little oil, pepper, and salt. Cook in the oven for around 10 to 12 minutes or until the salmon reaches 135-204 F internally. Set the cooked salmon aside until you’re ready to serve.
  • You can grate or mince garlic. Only use fresh garlic for this dish; do not use garlic powder.
  • Don’t forget to garnish with lime wedges to add a spritz of brightness to the Salmon and Coconut Rice. 
  • Don’t fry the garlic separately from the mixture because it may result in the garlic burning. 
  • You may reduce the amount of salt in this recipe. Conversely, you may also add salt according to your preferences. 
  • If you don’t want to add spinach, you can add other greens that you prefer. Chard or lettuce work just as well. 
  • Cilantro is an ingredient that many people have a love-hate relationship with. If cilantro is something that you do not like, worry not, as there are many other herbs you can replace it with. Switch up cilantro with ingredients such as basil, chives, parsley, and mint. 
  • This delicious rice recipe is highly versatile. Not only can you cook it with salmon, but you can also use other seafood or meat with it. Mahi-mahi and tuna are just as delicious as salmon. Chicken cooks well with the delicate and coconut-y flavor of the curry. You may also cook it with beef or pork, but use the quick-cooking cuts of the meat. 
  • For leftovers, freeze the curry and salmon separately so that you don’t run the risk of overcooking the salmon when reheating.
  • Garlic lovers may want to garnish this dish with crispy garlic bits.

Final Note

Thai green curry paste works well with salmon and rice, creating a versatile recipe. It balances the rich creaminess of coconut milk with the tangy brightness of lime and cilantro, the aromatic flavors of garlic, and the savory depth of curry paste.

The fluffy coconut rice acts as the perfect base, soaking up the flavors of the curry paste. This rice recipe is a crowd-pleaser and can be adapted for various dietary preferences. Try your hand and cook this rice dish today! 

For more rice recipes to cook and impress your family with, check out our collection. 

Hailing from California, USA. Ji-hyun is a Korean American 🇰🇷🇺🇸 with two growing boys who eat their weight in rice each week. After graduating UCLA & becoming a mom she started We Know Rice as a guide for all the students and moms out there looking to cook healthy and filling meals.