Paleo Sambal Chicken
Experience bold, fiery flavors with this Paleo Sambal Chicken, a healthy twist on a classic Southeast Asian-inspired dish. Tender, bite-sized chicken thighs are perfectly seasoned and cooked to golden perfection before being coated in a vibrant, homemade sambal paste made from fresh red chili peppers, shallots, garlic, and ginger. Enhanced with lime juice, fish sauce, and coconut aminos, this gluten-free and soy-free recipe is packed with umami and balanced by a zesty citrus kick. Prepared in under an hour, it’s ideal for busy weeknights while staying true to clean-eating principles. Garnished with fragrant cilantro and served with lime wedges, this dish pairs wonderfully with steamed vegetables or cauliflower rice for a complete Paleo-friendly meal. Perfect for spice lovers and those looking to elevate their chicken recipe repertoire!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 4 medium red chili peppers
- 3 medium shallots
- 5 large garlic cloves
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
- 0.5 teaspoon sea salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 for serving fresh lime wedges
Instructions
Begin by preparing the sambal paste. Roughly chop the red chili peppers, shallots, garlic, and ginger.
In a food processor, blend the chopped chili peppers, shallots, garlic, and ginger to form a smooth paste. You can add a little water if needed to aid in blending.
Slice the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and season with sea salt and black pepper.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the coconut oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces in a single layer.
Cook the chicken until it's browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, add the sambal paste and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the paste is fragrant and turns a deeper color.
Return the chicken to the skillet, coating it well with the sambal paste.
Add the lime juice, fish sauce, and coconut aminos. Stir everything together and cook for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve with fresh lime wedges on the side for squeezing over.
Enjoy your Paleo Sambal Chicken with a side of steamed vegetables or cauliflower rice.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
583 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 32.1 g | 41% | |
| Saturated Fat | 12.7 g | 64% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 238 mg | 79% | |
| Sodium | 869 mg | 38% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 11.7 g | 4% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.3 g | 8% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.0 g | ||
| Protein | 60.9 g | 122% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 57 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 2.7 mg | 15% | |
| Potassium | 987 mg | 21% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
