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Coconut Curry Greens with Runny Eggs

4.8

(15)

Image may contain Plant Dish Food Meal Bowl Cutlery Spoon Spinach Vegetable and Seasoning
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou

This shakshuka-inspired dish is green because it forgoes the traditional tomatoes and red peppers for spinach and kale. Plus the saucy, creamy base is a green curry paste made from lemongrass, coconut milk, chiles, and cilantro.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

2

hot chiles (such as Fresno, Holland, or Thai), divided

2

tsp. sugar, divided

2

limes, divided

Kosher salt

3

bunches mature spinach (about 1½ lb. total), trimmed, rinsed, divided

1

large bunch of Tuscan kale (about 8 oz.), center ribs and stems removed

1

Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1

Tbsp. coriander seeds

1

lemongrass stalk, tough outer layers removed, coarsely chopped

1

2" piece fresh ginger, coarsely chopped

3

garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

15

curry leaves (optional but highly recommended)

1

13.5-oz. can full-fat coconut milk

cups cilantro leaves with tender stems, divided

cups torn basil, divided

6

large eggs

Cooked rice (for serving; optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Slice 1 chile into rings, flicking out seeds and removing membranes if desired. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 tsp. sugar, 1 Tbsp. lime juice (from ½ lime), and a pinch of salt and toss to combine; set aside until ready to use. Cut remaining lime half into wedges; set aside for serving. Coarsely chop remaining chile.

    Step 2

    Cook spinach and kale in a large pot of boiling salted water until bright green and tender, 1–2 minutes. Immediately transfer to an ice bath. Drain and squeeze dry (no need to squeeze to death), then coarsely chop.

    Step 3

    Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a 10" skillet over medium until shimmering. Cook coriander seeds, stirring frequently, until fragrant and a shade darker, 2–3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add chopped chile, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, and curry leaves (if using); season with salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until curry leaves are crisp and aromatics are just starting to soften, about 3 minutes.

    Step 4

    Transfer lemongrass mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until finely chopped. Add coconut milk, 1 cup cilantro, 1 cup basil, ¾ tsp. salt, and remaining 1½ Tbsp. lime juice and 1 tsp. sugar. Continue to blend until smooth. Taste and season with salt if needed.

    Step 5

    Heat same skillet over medium (no need to wipe out). Add greens and cook, stirring to gently separate and cook off remaining liquid, 1–2 minutes. Pour curry sauce over, stir to combine, and bring to a very gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and greens are very tender, 4–6 minutes. Season with salt.

    Step 6

    Using a spoon, make 6 indentations in greens, then crack an egg into each. Cover and cook, rotating pan occasionally, until egg whites are opaque and cooked through, 6–10 minutes, depending on how runny you want them. Remove from heat and sit 5 minutes to give sauce a chance to set.

    Step 7

    Right before serving, add remaining ½ cup cilantro and ¼ cup basil to reserved chile-lime mixture. Season with salt and gently toss to combine.

    Step 8

    Top shakshuka with herb salad and drizzle with oil. Serve with reserved lime wedges and rice alongside (if using).

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Reviews (15)

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  • Yum! So tasty, I didn't have all the ingredients so I left out the lemongrass, basil, chilies, and just used more spinach instead of kale and it still came out outstanding. Just did one egg for a serving for one, but will refrigerate and add the eggs when I reheat the dish. For a spinach freak this is a winner!

    • Laurel

    • Colorado Springs, Co

    • 3/7/2022

  • Thai creamed spinach! Needs more chilies. Another 1-2 more Thai green chilies

    • A cook in Buffalo

    • Buffalo, NY

    • 8/29/2021

  • AMAZING! The combination of flavors works like magic! I would use the sauce again but maybe try salmon or chicken instead of eggs.

    • Anonymous

    • Ontario, Canada

    • 10/25/2020

  • This is one of my go-to recipes. Seriously delicious and a great way to get lotsa greens in! The eggs come out so amazing every time and really absorb a delicious flavor from the curry. Though the homemade sauce is unquestionably tastier, I often make this with premade sauce to save time. Trader Joes sells a green curry sauce that I find works really well with this recipe!

    • Anonymous

    • Chicago

    • 10/6/2020

  • I made this recipe with what I had on hand and that means I used a pre-made curry paste. I sautéed onions before adding the blanched greens though. The greens were cooked perfectly and had a lot of body and everything paired so nicely with echoer. I served it with baked naan bread and enjoyed it while in quarantine.

    • Anonymous

    • Indianapolis, Indiana

    • 3/24/2020

  • I've made this twice now and it's quickly become one of my favorite meals to make to impress people. I've altered this a few times- most recently using honey instead of sugar and not blending the curry sauce ingredients just finely chopping- and it consistently comes out good. The first time I made it I went without lemongrass, but this time I threw in two stalks and oh boy, it added that extra something.

    • asimz

    • Oakland

    • 9/30/2019

  • Made this tonight without the lemongrass (since I didn't have on hand) and loved tis green version of shakshuka. Delicious and healthy.

    • Anonymous

    • NYC

    • 8/5/2019