Maple Curry Chicken Penne

Ingredients matter - choose the best

I believe that it's important to choose the best ingredients you have access to always (budget allowing)! This is especially true when you're making a dish that is made with whole foods and has a few core ingredients that really shine.

The most important "splurge" you can make is buying a great curry paste. Although not expensive, it's something not everyone has in their house but I wholeheartedly recommend the Mae Ploy brand of curry paste. For this recipe, I use their yellow curry paste.

The only other product I'm sort of a snob over is Maple Syrup. I work part time for Wabanaki Maple, another amazing local New Brunswick brand, and I do recommend that you use their maple syrup - if you don't have access to it just please use real maple syrup. None of this corn syrup stuff. This is a dish to honour maple as a star ingredient.

If you're making homemade pasta:

Although I have a pasta maker and pasta extruder, sometimes you can't be bothered to make fresh pasta (though it will yield the best results)! Store-bought penne will do the job, but look for the best quality that you can find. Ideally, make your penne from scratch, or buy fresh pasta in the refrigerator section of your grocery store.

My go-to pasta recipe is from a super random cookbook that was given to me by my parents. I've never heard anyone talk about it, but they make a great pasta dough! The recipe from 50 Perfect Pasta Dishes by Maxine Clarke is tried and true in my house and is super no-fuss and simple. The Basic Pasta Dough recipe is as follows:

Ingredients
- 200g All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Eggs (size 2)
- 15 ml Olive Oil
- A pinch of Salt

Instructions
- Sift the flour and salt onto a clean fork surface and make a well in the center with your fist.
- Pour the beaten eggs and oil into the well. Gradually mix the eggs into the flour with the fingers of one hand.
- Knead the pasta until smooth, wrap and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes before attempting to roll out. The pasta will be much more elastic after resting.

Substitutions and Modifications

Can I substitute the vegetables for something I like?

Yes! This dish is technically a substitute from the original because I will not, under any circumstance, eat bell peppers. I opt for carrots and/or mushrooms. If you like bell peppers, these apparently are delicious in this!

Can I make this to suit a keto diet?

I'm sure you could but it would be so far different from the original dish that I don't think it would be worth it. You can buy a keto friendly maple syrup (Walden Farms) but it's more of a table syrup and won't have the same flavour. You can make it lower carb by using something like spaghetti squash but just keep in mind that the texture is different entirely as this uses a penne.

Can I make a vegan Maple Curry Penne?

Yes! If you substitute the cream for coconut cream (great for dairy-free, too) the sauce is friendly for people who eat plant based. For the chicken, replace it with your favourite plant-based alternative or leave it out altogether. I recommend chickpeas or just adding more mushrooms.

How can I make this dish lighter?

It's definitely a rich dish by nature - if you prefer something a little bit more fresh, substitute half of the cream with a good quality chicken broth (ideally homemade).

How thin should I slice my chicken?

You want your chicken thin so it cooks fully. Here is an idea of the size the chicken should be:

If you loved this dish, be sure to try some of my other copycat recipes!

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to leave a review and tell me how it turned out! I'm always open to feedback and love hearing ways I can make my content more user friendly! If you took a picture, be sure to tag me on Instagram to be featured!

Want some other recipes inspired by local restaurants? Check these out!

📖 Recipe