Thai Yellow Curry Chicken Drumsticks with Sweet Potato and Green Beans
Bone-in chicken drumsticks simmered until tender in a mild golden coconut curry with sweet potato and crisp green beans.
Made with Thai yellow curry paste. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.31 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Spoon the thick cream from the top of the coconut milk into a wide pan with the oil over a medium heat. Add your ready made Thai yellow curry paste (see the base recipe) and fry for 2 minutes, stirring, until it smells rich and the oil starts to separate.
2 min - 2
Add the drumsticks and onion and turn for 4 minutes until the chicken is pale on the outside.
4 min - 3
Pour in the rest of the coconut milk and the water. Add the fish sauce and palm sugar and bring to a gentle simmer.
- 4
Cover and cook for 25 minutes, turning the drumsticks once.
25 min - 5
Add the sweet potato and cook, part covered, for 15 minutes more, then add the green beans for the last 5 minutes. The chicken must be cooked all the way through with no pink near the bone and the juices running clear.
15 min - 6
Meanwhile, cook the jasmine rice following the packet instructions.
12 min - 7
Take the curry off the heat and stir in the lime juice. Taste and adjust the salt and sweetness. Serve over the rice, scattered with coriander.
Tips
- Removing the skin lets the sauce soak into the meat instead of turning greasy.
- Frying the paste in the coconut cream first is what gives yellow curry its depth. Do not skip it.
- Cut the sweet potato in even chunks so it cooks at the same time as the chicken.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 to 2 hours and keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze without the potatoes for up to 2 months, as potatoes go grainy. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Is this curry spicy?
No, it is mild. The heat comes from a few dried chillies in the paste. Stir in a fresh sliced red chilli at the end if you want more kick.
Can I use ready made yellow curry paste?
Yes, use about 60 g of a shop bought paste, which is saltier and often contains shrimp paste and wheat free or not depending on the brand. Check the label if you need it gluten free.
What can I use instead of fish sauce?
Use 1 tablespoon of gluten free tamari plus a pinch of salt. The flavour is a little less funky but still good.
More made with thai yellow curry paste
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
