EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more info, check out my Disclosure Policy. Thank you for your support!

Share this recipe

Jump to Recipe

One of the foods I miss the most on a gluten free diet is Chinese food - so making my own gluten free Chinese curry recipe was a no-brainer!

It's a dish packed with bold flavours, and while I made mine with chicken you could easily switch this for prawns, tofu, or extra vegetables, depending on your tastes.

And don't worry, making a gluten free Chinese curry is actually SUPER easy!

EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (1)

Chinese food is a cuisine I often crave and something I'm always hugely jealous of when everyone gets a take-away.

To me, it's also a cuisine which seems difficult to recreate at home. That is, until you actually try it and realise it's really very simple.

Normally the problem with Chinese food for people with coeliac disease is the soy sauce, which contains wheat.

However, this gluten free Chinese curry recipe uses gluten free tamari soy sauce, which is widely available in supermarket free from aisles. To me, this tastes just as good!

EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (2)

Making my gluten free Chinese curry recipe

Making this gluten free Chinese curry recipe is incredibly easy. In fact, a lot of the ingredients are quite similar to my gluten free katsu curry, if you've tried that already.

You basically make this insanely tasty sauce, then blend it up so it's super smooth.

After that you cook up the chicken before re-adding the sauce et voila, 20 minutes later and dinner is served!

It's pretty much all store-cupboard ingredients too, so you shouldn't need to do too much shopping to make this.

You could also create a bigger batch and freeze a portion for another time!

Batch cooking is my favourite way to save money and time, especially when I really don't feel like cooking.

What do you serve Chinese curry with?

In terms of what to have this with, I like to pair it with some home-made egg fried rice, but boiled or steamed rice works just as well.

You can also pair it with something like my gluten free Singapore rice recipe if you want to create a real feast.

And with Chinese New Year on the horizon (Jan 25, 2020), what better reason to celebrate, right!?

My favourite thing about Chinese food is when you create a feast and have bits of lots of different dishes.

This would also work really well with my gluten free marmalade chicken. The more dishes the better!

EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (3)

Making the best gluten free Chinese curry sauce

Before we get started, I like to make sure you guys are prepped to make the best meal possible!

So here are a few tips if you're making this recipe for the first time...

I coat the chicken in cornflour as it gives it a lovely crisp texture on the outside when cooking. It also helps to thicken the sauce when you add it to the meat. You could skip this but I prefer it with the cornflour personally.

I used a mild curry powder for the sauce but you could use a hot one if you prefer. I prefer my dishes to have flavour over spice, but if you love your meals to have a kick then by all means fire it up!

When making the stock, I would recommend using a Knorr chicken (or vegetable if making a veggie version) stock pot as it's my favourite for flavour. However you can find LOADS of different gluten free stock options here! I prefer to make a mild stock (1 cube to 750ml of water) as otherwise I find it can get a bit salty, but if using a low-salt stock you can go for 1 cube per 500ml.

This whole dish is about personal taste - if you don't like it too salty then use a mild stock and less soy sauce. If you don't want a hint of sweetness you can forego the sugar, but I think this really brings the dish into its own.

As I said before, you can also make this recipe with prawns, tofu or veg - if using tofu I would keep the cornflour, but otherwise I'd cook it without for the prawns/veg option. Chicken if my favourite for this gluten free Chinese curry dish though!

EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (4)

My gluten free Chinese curry recipe

I really hope you love this recipe as much as I do! Please do let me know if you give it a go as I love to see your creations!

Tag me @GFBlogger or use #theglutenfreeblogger on Instagram to share your dishes!

EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (5)

Yield: 2 people

Gluten free Chinese curry

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A simple gluten free Chinese chicken curry which is also dairy free. Perfect for a coeliac-friendly 'fake-away' and can be made with prawns, tofu or vegetables instead!

Ingredients

  • 3-4 chicken breasts, (diced)
  • 2 tsp cornflour
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil, (or preferred cooking oil)
  • 1 onion, (peeled and chopped)
  • 1 garlic clove, (peeled and crushed)
  • 2 tsp mild curry powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp Chinese five spice
  • 400 ml mild chicken stock, (made with one stock cube and 750ml boiling water)
  • 1 tsp tamari gluten free soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Handful of frozen peas

To serve:

  • Boiled rice
  • 1 spring onion, (chopped)

Instructions

  1. Add the diced chicken to a large bowl, sprinkle over the cornflour and toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
  2. In a wok heat 1 tbsp of rapeseed oil over a high heat, and once hot add the chicken. Stir fry for approximately 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Take off the heat and place the chicken on a plate - set aside while you make the sauce.
  3. Without cleaning out the pan, add 1 tbsp rapeseed oil and return to a low-to-medium heat. Add the onion and stir fry for 1-2 minutes until it softens.
  4. Add the garlic and spices and stir fry for another minute. Pour in the stock, and add the tamari soy sauce and the sugar. Stir well, bring to the boil and then turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce starts to thicken.
  5. After 15 minutes, pour the sauce content into a blender and blend until smooth. Return the chicken and sauce to the wok and place over a low-to-medium heat. Bring to the boil, add the frozen peas and then turn down to a low heat. Simmer for a further five minutes and then serve immediately. Garnish with the spring onion and serve with a side of boiled rice.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1 portion

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 771Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 210mgSodium: 1101mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 4gSugar: 9gProtein: 86g

Need some more gluten free dinner inspiration?

Want to have a go at making some more easy gluten free dinner recipes? Give some of these other gluten free dishes a try! There are plenty to choose from – here are a couple to get you going:

  • Gluten free marmalade chicken recipe
  • Singapore noodles - gluten free
  • Vegan and gluten free chickpea curry

If you do make this recipe please let me know! I’d love to see your photos using #theglutenfreeblogger,share them inmy Facebook groupor tag me onInstagram.

And if you have any recipe suggestions, please let me know in the comments what you’d like to see next!

Oh – anddon’t forget to sign up for my e-newsletterwhere you’ll know about all my latest posts and competitions first!

Like this recipe?Pin this recipe card below for later!

EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (6)

EASY Gluten Free Chinese Curry Recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (2024)

FAQs

Does Chinese curry sauce contain gluten? ›

This bundle brings together sauces that are usually off the menu for those who are sensitive or allergic to gluten and wheat. Chinese curry is invariably made with a lot of wheat flour to bulk it out.

Is curry good for celiacs? ›

Many of the ingredients that go into a curry if you're making it from scratch will not contain gluten; from the oil and spices use to make the flavoursome base, to the plain meat and fresh vegetables, to the sauce whether this is chopped tomato or coconut milk for a creamier curry.

How do you thicken curry without flour? ›

Four Ways to Thicken Your Curry Sauce
  1. Tomato puree/ paste. Ideal for tomato-based sauces so great for Indian and Italian cookery. ...
  2. Cornflour. Ideal for Chinese sauces or Thai curries but can also be used for Indian curries. ...
  3. Yogurt. ...
  4. Simmer down.
Mar 10, 2014

Does coconut milk thicken curry? ›

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

What is a gluten free thickener for curry? ›

Common Types of Gluten Free Thickeners:
  • Arrowroot: Arrowroot powder is a great substitute for cornstarch and does not add any color to a recipe. ...
  • Cornstarch: The least expensive thickener, cornstarch is also a fine white powder that incorporates well into hot or cold recipes. ...
  • Gluten Free Flour: ...
  • Tapioca Starch. ...
  • Xanthum Gum.
Jul 26, 2021

What can celiacs eat from Chinese? ›

  • Chinese Dining: Gluten-Free.
  • Steamed Chicken/Shrimp or Seafood: Chicken, shrimp, or seafood usually steamed with.
  • Egg Drop Soup: Beaten eggs in boiled chicken broth with condiments (pepper, scallions)
  • Fried Rice: White rice, egg, scallions, carrots, and usually meat, pork, or tofu.

What spices should celiacs avoid? ›

There are two reasons why ground spices like curry powder, turmeric, paprika, and cinnamon might contain gluten: They were either contaminated in the factory, or the manufacturer added a little flour to them later to prevent caking. Most herbs and spices are safe, however, especially if they're fresh.

What curries are usually gluten-free? ›

Here are some of the most popular gluten-free Indian dishes:
  • Pongal. Pongal is a South Indian dish with rice, mung beans, and spices. ...
  • Sambar. Sambar is a hearty stew made with vegetables, tamarind, and spices. ...
  • Chicken Tikka Masala. ...
  • Paneer. ...
  • Chapati (Made with Gram Flour)
Dec 1, 2022

Does gluten make thyroid worse? ›

The potential problem with consuming gluten when you have Hashimoto's disease is that it contains a protein (gliadin) that resembles an enzyme of your thyroid (transglutaminase). So, if you have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, this can cause your immune system to attack your thyroid mistakenly.

What is a substitute for flour in curry? ›

11 best flour substitutions
  1. Chickpea flour. Often confused with besan (see below), chickpea flour is made from ground white chickpeas. ...
  2. Almond flour. Almond flour is an excellent alternative to have in your kitchen cupboard. ...
  3. Gluten-free flour mixture. ...
  4. Coconut flour. ...
  5. Gram flour (besan) ...
  6. Rice flour. ...
  7. Buckwheat flour. ...
  8. Oat flour.
Jan 31, 2023

What to add to curry to make it taste better? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

Does coconut flour thicken curry? ›

Coconut Milk – Coconut milk adds the creaminess to this curry and is what makes the sauce so smooth. I recommend using full fat canned coconut milk. Coconut Flour – This is optional, but it will thicken up the curry a little bit. You can also use regular flour.

How do you thicken Chinese curry sauce? ›

How to Thicken Curry
  1. Add dairy. Many curry sauces have a creamy texture, so try adding more dairy—like Greek yogurt, heavy cream, or a thick non-dairy ingredient like coconut cream—to thicken a watery curry sauce.
  2. Add ground nuts. ...
  3. Add lentils. ...
  4. Add peanut butter. ...
  5. Add a tomato product. ...
  6. Start with a roux. ...
  7. Use a slurry.
Jan 20, 2022

When should I add coconut milk to a curry? ›

Once the spices and veg have cooked, add in the coconut milk and a couple cups of chicken stock. Turn the heat up so it comes to a boil and then lower to about medium heat and cook for 10-15 minutes. Just until it starts to thicken! I normally do 10 minutes, but if you like a really thick sauce, take it longer.

Do you thicken curry with lid on or off? ›

To thicken a soup, stew, or sauce, leaving the lid uncovered is ideal. "It must be off, or semi-covered, if you are slowing down the reduction process," says Stephen Chavez, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.

Is Chinese takeaway curry gluten free? ›

I know most curries are gluten free, but a lot of Chinese takeaways use curry powder that has wheat in it – so remember that! You'll never believe how Mark gets the chicken to be so juicy and tender… I'll let you go over to the recipe and find out for yourself!

What is Chinese curry sauce made of? ›

Basically, the curry sauce base is made with curry powder, turmeric and Chinese five spices. To thicken the gravy corn starch and plain flour are added.

What does Chinese curry sauce contain? ›

Ingredients: Water, Creamed Coconut, Brown Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt, Coriander, Chilli Powder, Turmeric, Onion Powder, Mustard Powder, Garlic, Fennel, Black Pepper, Fenugreek, Cinnamon, Cumin, Ginger, Star Anise.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 6134

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.