Vietnamese chicken curry soup (cà ri gà) is made with madras curry powder, lemongrass, and coconut milk. The added use of coconut water makes this hearty Vietnamese curry lighter while still maintaining a rich, aromatic broth. Serve with a baguette (banh mi) or rice noodles.

A bowl of chicken curry with potato and carrot are placed on a napkin and paired with baguette slices and rice noodle nests on the side.

When my family vacationed in Ho Chi Minh city and the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam many years ago, we thoroughly enjoyed the traditional Vietnamese cuisine: the world famous pho noodle soup, Vietnamese seafood dishes, salads, spring rolls, and the list goes on for other delicious Vietnamese foods.

Here is a memorable Vietnamese curry that I enjoyed in Vietnam and wanted to recreate in my own kitchen. Called “cà ri gà”, this Vietnamese chicken curry coup is a warm and scrumptious bowl of tender chicken in a rich curry stewed with potato and carrot.

If you are yearning for homemade soups and stews with Vietnamese flavor, you will be satisfied with this recipe. Although there is some wait time needed for the marinade to season the chicken, overall this is a very easy chicken curry recipe that the whole family can enjoy without much effort to prepare.

A bowl of Vietnamese chicken curry is garnished with cilantro and served with rice noodles and baguette slices

What is Vietnamese chicken curry soup (cà ri gà)?

Almost like a curry soup, Vietnamese chicken curry has a thinner broth with a sweet flavor tones from the coconut. You can dip your Vietnamese baguette, or banh mi, in the broth, or use the broth to pour over rice noodles to soak up the rich broth. It really is a wonderful, warm comfort food.

If you are interested in exotic chicken soup, I want you to check out my spicy Korean chicken soup recipe for a completely different flavor.

The golden curry soup is made with chicken pieces that are marinated with Vietnamese curry powder, lemongrass, garlic, and fish sauce. Then the chicken is pan fried and simmered in a broth mixture of coconut milk and chicken stock.

For my recipe, I like to use less coconut milk and add coconut water to lighten things up a bit. You will still enjoy the rich, gently sweet, and earthy flavor that a classic Vietnamese curry offers without any heaviness.

Rice noodles are added in a bowl of chicken, potato, carrot curry and paired with spoon, chopsticks, and baguette slices.

What makes Vietnamese chicken curry different than curries of other cuisine?

When it comes to the recipes with chicken for curries, Vietnamese chicken curry is a light and flavorful curry that is slightly different than Thai or Indian chicken curries.

Thai curry generally has an abundant amounts of spicy chili peppers, and overall presents strong flavors due to the liberal use of stronger spices, while Vietnamese curry uses hot chili peppers sparingly. That makes Vietnamese chicken curry much milder and thinner.

Although Vietnamese chicken curry’s spice mixture is influenced by Indian curry, the flavor and the texture has diverged quite a bit from Indian curry, which tends to be thicker and richer. And thanks to the fish sauce in particular, Vietnamese curry definitely has its own unique flavor.

Vietnamese curry powder

For a Vietnamese curry, I use Madras curry powder. The spices include coriander seed, cumin, turmeric, chili, ginger, cinnamon, bay leaves, anise, cloves and salt. This is a mildly spicy curry powder, so even children can handle the heat.

A jar of Vietnamese curry powder is placed in front of coconut water and chicken stock in their package

You can get this curry powder at most Asian or some Indian markets.  If you can’t find this specific brand, you can go with other Vietnamese alternatives, or even other Indian brands.

What type of chicken to use for cà ri gà?

I recommend to use bone-in chicken pieces, such as drumsticks or thigh–dark meat is better. I use a whole chicken (with skin mostly removed) cut up into similar sized pieces, about 3-inches in size, so that they all cook evenly.

Recipe ingredients and notes

  • Chicken: whole chicken cut-up or bone-in drumsticks or thighs.
  • Lemongrass: This fragrant plant (or herb) is very tough and woody. It is a staple ingredient for Southeast Asian cuisine. Make sure to remove the tough outer layers and use the tender white and light green parts inside. Lemongrass is easily found in many Asian groceries. If you can’t find the fresh lemongrass plant, look for frozen minced lemongrass or lemongrass paste in your local store.
  • Potato & carrot: These root vegetables make the curry hearty and wholesome. I used Yukon potatoes. Cut these vegetables in big chunks to that they don’t break up easily.
  • Shallot (or onion): make sure it is finely minced.
  • Fish sauce: I use Viet Huong’s “Three Crab” fish sauce which can easily be found at Asian and mainstream American grocery stores.
  • Coconut milk: gives a creamy richness and sweetness to the curry. Too much coconut milk, however, is overpowering and makes the curry too rich.
  • Coconut water (or coconut juice): lightens the curry broth and adds a sweetness without overpowering the dish.
  • Chicken stock: will deepen the flavor of the curry.

How to make Vietnamese chicken curry soup (Ca Ri Ga)

Step 1. Pound lemongrass and garlic

Remove the tough, woody outer layer of the lemongrass and mince the white and light green parts. Put the lemongrass and garlic in a mortar and pestle and pound them to a paste.

Step 2. Marinate chicken in curry paste

Put chicken pieces in a large mixing bowl. Add lemongrass and garlic paste, finely minced onion (or shallot), madras curry powder, and fish sauce. Toss the chicken to coat well. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to overnight.

Step 3. Brown chicken

Heat oil in a pot over medium high heat, brown chicken on all sides in small batches without crowding too much.

Step 4. Add liquid

When all the chicken pieces are browned, add coconut water, chicken stock, and sugar to the pot. Bring to boil and reduce the heat to medium low. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 15-20 minutes

Step 5. Add vegetables and coconut milk

Add potato and carrot pieces and continue to cook, covered, until they are tender and soft over medium heat, about 10 minutes. Add coconut milk and heat through, about 3-4 minutes.

A baguette slice is dipped in a bowl of chicken curry with potato and carrot garnished with cilantro leaf.

How to serve

Ladle the hot curry into individual serving bowls. This curry soup is traditionally dipped with a Vietnamese baguette (banh mi) – if you are lucky enough to get one – or use a French baguette. It is also great over rice noodles or vermicelli.

Other Asian dishes

If you love Southeast Asian flavors, try these delicious Thai and Vietnamese recipes that you can easily make at home:

A bowl of chicken curry with potato and carrot are placed on a napkin and paired with baguette slices and rice noodle nests on the side.

How to make Vietnamese Chicken Curry Soup (Ca Ri Ga)

This Vietnamese chicken curry soup is made with madras curry powder, lemongrass, and coconut milk. The addition of coconut water makes it lighter while still maintaining a rich flavored broth.
5 from 2 ratings

Ingredients

  • 2 lemongrass
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 lb whole chicken, cut up, or use bone-in chicken drumsticks and thighs
  • 1 medium onion, finely minced
  • 3 tbsp Madras curry powder
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 1/2 cup coconut water
  • 2 cup chicken stock
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 2 medium carrot, peeled and diced
  • 2 small potato (yukon), peeled and diced
  • 4 tbsp chopped cilantro, to garnish

To serve

  • banh mi or baguette , sliced
  • rice noodles , or vermicelli

Instructions 

  • For the lemongrass, remove the tough, woody outer layer and mince the white and light green parts.
  • Grind the minced lemongrass and garlic cloves with a mortar and pestle until grounded into a paste.
  • Put chicken pieces in a large mixing bowl. Add lemongrass and garlic paste, finely minced onion (or shallot), madras curry powder, and fish sauce. Toss the chicken to coat well. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to overnight.
  • Heat oil in a pot over medium high heat, brown chicken on all sides in small batches without crowding too much.
  • When all the chicken pieces are browned, add coconut water, chicken stock, and sugar to the pot. Bring to boil and reduce the heat to medium low. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 15-20 minutes
  • Add potato and carrot pieces and continue to cook, covered, until they are tender and soft over medium heat, about 10 minutes. Add coconut milk and heat through, about 3-4 minutes.
  • To serve, ladle the hot curry into individual serving bowls. This curry soup is traditionally dipped with a Vietnamese baguette (banh mi) or use a French baguette. It is also great over rice noodles or vermicelli.
Calories: 721kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 46g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 16g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 126mg, Sodium: 1126mg, Potassium: 1495mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 5403IU, Vitamin C: 32mg, Calcium: 114mg, Iron: 6mg
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