5 Minute Coconut Curry Sauce

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Ohh, this simple dairy free coconut curry sauce is so good that I could (and do) eat it by the spoonful. This sauce has it all...amazing curry flavor, sweetness, and a bit of tang from the lime juice. Oh, and a super creamy smooth texture to round it all out.

This recipe uses curry powder instead of curry paste, and has no added sugar. Although you'd never guess it because its SO sweet and packed with flavor.

Before we get to the recipe...can I give you a quick cooking tip?

The secret to cooking simple and healthy meals quickly is having delicious sauce recipes that you can use for tons of flavor (without hours of cooking over the stove).

When I meal plan dinners for the week (with this template), it typically consists of:

• Protein (meat or beans)
• A couple vegetables
• Small serving of carbs
• A delicious homemade sauce

Since I can use the same basic ingredients in multiple meals throughout the week, and just change out the sauce for a completely different flavor, this formula works really well for us.

But the sauce makes or breaks the meal.

And in the case of this simple curry sauce...well, it's a family favorite. Even my young kids like it!

Tools used to make coconut curry sauce

• Sauce pan - If your nonstick pans are flaking, I recommend updating your nonstick sauce pan to a cast iron or stainless steel option to make sure you don't ingest any toxic nonstick stuff on accident.
• Stirring spoon - I love these wooden spoons - great price right now too!

Ingredients used to make this sauce

• Coconut oil - get the good stuff like this one (organic, extra-virgin, cold-pressed & unrefined).
• Curry powder - grab a big tub of mild or hot curry powder and you won't have to buy curry powder for a long time.
• Coconut milk - Grab the kind in the can, not the carton. I've really been loving this kind without guar lately.
• Turmeric powder - This kind looks awesome and is tested for heavy metals.
• Fish sauce - Grab this kind to make sure there's no gluten or sugar in your sauce.
• Lime juice - squeezed fresh or this kind with only one ingredient.

Alright, now that we've gathered our tools and ingredients, it's time to make some delicious coconut curry sauce!

How to make 5 minute coconut curry sauce

In a medium sauce pan, heat the oil (we like coconut oil for this recipe) and curry powder until fragrant. Cook for about a minute and add the coconut milk and turmeric.

I don't reduce mine much, because I like my curry more soupy. But if you'd rather have a thicker curry (without much liquid), just reduce it until it's the thickness you like. A word of caution, if you heat the mixture on too high of heat, the coconut milk may get to be a strange texture.

If you know you like REALLY thick curry sauce, I recommend buying coconut cream instead of coconut milk and use it instead in this recipe.

Once you've got it all mixed together, turn off the heat and add the lime juice, coconut aminos, and fish sauce.

Coconut Curry Sauce - Ingredient Substitutions

• Coconut Milk: We use full fat, unsweetened coconut milk - the kind in the can. If you're looking for the specific brand, here it is on Amazon. Although we get ours at Costco. The canned kind (usually found in the Asian aisle of my grocery store) is thicker and will give you a creamier sauce than the kind in the carton. If you're on the AIP diet, or just avoiding gums, you can use this coconut milk that is made without guar gum and I've been super impressed with the texture, given there's no guar to hold it together.
• Coconut aminos: Coconut aminos can be used as a soy-sauce replacement. It's made from coconuts and has a sweetness that you just can't get with soy sauce. You can use soy sauce in place of coconut aminos in this curry sauce, but the flavor will be slightly different. We use this brand and love it!
• Curry powder: I have not tried using curry paste in this recipe, so I can't guarantee it would work. If you try it, let me know in the comments below!
• Fish sauce: If you're looking for a vegan curry sauce, I recommend omitting the fish sauce altogether. You can add extra coconut aminos, salt, and lime juice, to taste at the end if the flavor isn't quite how you like it.
• Spice level: The spice level of this sauce depends on the curry powder you're using. I personally think it's pretty mild. If you're looking for more spice, I recommend adding your favorite hot sauce or cayenne powder, to taste.

How to use your coconut curry sauce?

Obviously, you can use this sauce in a traditional curry with rice, veggies, and meat (or beans). This coconut chickpea curry recipe uses this exact sauce.

You can also do self-serve style and set the jar of curry sauce on the table. Pour it over your bowl (or plate) of food and use as much as you like.

This works well if you have picky eaters at the table. If they don't like sauce, they don't have to eat it.

Looking for more delicious homemade sauces?

• Easy Pizza Sauce With Tomato Paste
• Best Homemade Peanut Dipping Sauce
• Creamy Cilantro Lime Mayo
• 5 Minute Basil Walnut Pesto
• No Cook Honey Barbecue Sauce

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