Thai Red Curry with vegetables is a rich, creamy, and mildly spiced side dish popular across the world. This authentic curry is usually made with fresh vegetables, Thai red curry paste, coconut milk, and basil leaves which makes this dish rich and unique and served for lunch and dinner.
The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Thai Red Curry with easy step-by-step instructions to prepare this at home. I have also attached a detailed video tutorial for you to make the cooking process easy and simple. This Thai Red Curry is a perfect vegan-friendly dish and tastes great over jasmine rice, white rice, brown rice and similar other dishes.
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What is Thai Red Curry?
Thai Red Curry is a popular side dish known for its bold flavor, and taste. The authentic recipe is typically made with vegetables, tofu, chicken, fish, shrimp, or lentils. The veggies or proteins are simmered in a mildly spiced red curry sauce. Not to mention the rich and creamy texture and flavor from the coconut milk makes the dish heavenly.
This Red Curry is not only super delicious but it is also easy to make under 30 minutes and customizable too. The recipe I have shared here is Thai Red Curry with vegetables and it is an absolutely vegan-friendly wholesome dish. And it is medium to mildly spiced when compared to green curries.
Similar to authentic red curry recipes, this vegetarian version is also made with fresh red curry paste and simmered in rich coconut milk. Even though I have used veggies here, you can add lentils, fish, chicken, shrimp, tofu, and other proteins to suit your taste buds. So let see what you will need to make this curry.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe.
- Vegetables - I have used Bell Peppers, zucchini and carrots, but you can also use pumpkin, brocoli and squash for more options
- Red Curry Paste - It delivers the authentic flavor and taste to your curry and you can also use store-bought paste and I have also shared tips to elevate its flavor and taste
- Coconut Milk - It is one of the main ingredient that gives the authentic flavor and taste to the dish
- Basil Leaves - Gives a fresh aroma and taste to this Red Curry Sauce
- Soy Sauce and Palm Sugar - The soy sauce I have used here is a vegan friendly one and feel free to use your favorite that is handy to you. Authentic Red Curry also use shrimp paste or fish oil to enhance the taste which I skipped here
How to make Thai Red Curry?
Thai Red Curry shared here is made with vegetables and uses freshly made red curry paste. Following are the high-level instructions to make this dish. But for simple and easy instructions with step-by-step photos, check out the recipe card below.
- Cook the Coconut Milk - In a wok or pan with medium heat, pour the coconut milk and cook until it thickens and leaves its oil from its sides
- Add the Red Curry Paste - Now add the rec curry paste and saute until it turns aromatic
- Stir in the Veggies - Add all the veggies and mix well with the curry paste
- Pour in the Coconut Milk - Now add the coconut milk and water and mix well
- Add Soy Sauce and Palm Sugar - Mix in the soy sauce and palm or brown sugar and give a good mix
- Cook the Veggies - Boil the veggies in coconut milk mixture for about 7 to 10 minutes
- Simmer and Cook - Simmer the heat and cook the curry for another 3 to 5 minutes
- Garnish - Finally add Thai basil leaves and give a good mix. You can also add Kaffir Lime leaves to achieve a zesty taste and flavor. Since red curry paste already has kaffir lime as one of the ingredient I have skipped it
- Serve - Yay! now our Thai Red Curry is ready to taste and enjoy. Serve this delicious curry with white rice, brown rice, Thai coconut rice or fried rice
Variations
- Red Curry with Chicken - You can also make this recipe with chicken, to do that add in the chicken pieces after sauting the curry paste. And rest of the process remains the same
- Shrimp Red Curry - Shrimp or prawn also gives best taste and flavor to this red curry sauce. And you can also use fish to make red curry as well
- Lentils - You can make this red curry with lentils to make a wholesome curry
- Pumpkin - Adding pumpkin to chicken or vegetable red curry gives a nice flavor and taste
Tips
- For Best flavor - Using homemade Thai red curry paste and sauteing them in the coconut milk gives the authentic flavor and taste to the curry
- Veggie Options - I have added bell peppers and zucchini for this recipe and you can also use other veggies like squash, broccoli, pumpkin, and also lentils to have a healthy wholesome curry
- For Store-Bought Curry Paste - Usually, store-bought red curry paste is mild in flavor, so you can saute the onions, ginger, and garlic in oil to elevate its flavor
- Spice Level - This Thai Red Curry is mildly spiced and you can also add sriracha sauce and some sliced red chilies before serving to spruce up the heat
- Vegan Friendly - This recipe shared here is a vegan-friendly Thai Red Curry and feel free to add chicken, shrimp, or other protein to make a non-vegan version
- Best Combo - This Thai Red Curry tastes great with white rice, Thai coconut rice, and fried rice
Calories in Thai Red Curry
The recipe I have shared here contains 48 calories per serving. Here I haven't added oil or meat proteins and it is all from the veggies and coconut milk I have used here. The calorie count may change if the chicken and other proteins are added. And note that this number is just an estimation only and you could find the detailed nutrition value in the recipe card below.
Storage Suggestions
This Thai Curry tastes great when served warm and tastes even more delicious the next day. But make sure to store the curry in the refrigerator in an air-tight container to retains its fresh flavor and taste.
Serving Suggestions
This curry makes a great combo with jasmine rice, white rice, brown rice, Thai fried rice, or coconut rice. And you can also add your other side dishes to make the perfect meal platter to suit this mildly spiced curry.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar recipes below and more at Thai recipes, Vegan Recipes and Veg Curry Recipes.
- Yellow Curry
- Yellow Curry Paste
- Panang Curry
- Thai Green Curry
- Pad Thai
- Thai Fish Cake
- Chicken Curry
- Butter Chicken
- Egg Curry
Thai Red Curry Recipe video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Thai Red Curry that I hope will help you to make a perfect dish at home. For a quick reference, you could also find this recipe in story format.
📖 Recipe
Thai Red Curry with Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup Coconut Milk, unsweetened
- 3 tbsp Red Curry Paste
- ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Green Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Yellow Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Carrot
- ¼ cup Zucchini
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Brown, or palm sugar
- ¼ cup Thai Basil Leaves
- Salt, as needed
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
To prepare Thai Red Curry
- In a wok, pour ½ cup of coconut milk and stir and cook until it leaves oil from its sides
- Add the red curry paste and saute well for 2 to 3 minutes or it turns fragrant
- Now add red, green, and yellow bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, salt and mix well
- Add the 1 cup of coconut milk and 1 cup of water and give a good mix
- Now add soy sauce, palm or brown sugar and give a nice mix
- Allow the veggies to cook for about 7 to 10 minutes in the coconut milk
- Simmer the heat and cook the curry for 3 to 5 minutes. Finally, add the Thai Basil leaves and give a nice mix
- Now the delicious Thai Red Curry with vegetables is ready to taste and enjoy
To Serve
- Serve this delicious Thai Red Curry with white rice or rice of your choice
Video
Notes
- For Best flavor - Using homemade Thai red curry paste and sauteing them in the coconut milk gives the authentic flavor and taste to the curry
- Veggie Options - I have added bell peppers, carrots, and zucchini for this recipe and you can also use other veggies like squash, broccoli, pumpkin, and also lentils to have a healthy wholesome curry
- For Store-Bought Curry Paste - Usually, store-bought curry red paste is mild in flavor, so you can saute the onions, ginger, and garlic in oil to elevate its flavor
- Spice Level - This Thai Red Curry is mildly spiced and you can also add sriracha sauce and some sliced red chilies before serving to spruce up the heat
- Vegan Friendly - This recipe shared here is a vegan-friendly Thai Red Curry feel free to add chicken, shrimp, or other protein to make a non-vegan version
- Best Combo - This Thai Red Curry tastes great with white rice, Thai coconut rice, and fried rice
Nutrition
FAQ
Thai Red Curry is an authentic and popular side dish from Thai Cuisine. It is traditionally made with fresh red curry paste, coconut milk, veggies, chicken, fish, shrimp, or tofu. This curry has exotic flavors, is rich in its texture, and mildly spiced when compared to Thai green curry, and served as a side dish for rice.
The main difference is the curry paste used in the recipe and traditionally red curry paste is made with red chilies while green curry uses fresh green chilies to make the paste. And both the curries have different flavors and tastes.
Thai Red Curry tastes mildly spiced, sweet, and with bold flavors of ginger, lime, and fresh basil leaves.
The recipe I have shared here contains 48 calories per serving. Here I haven't added oil or meat proteins and it is all from the veggies and coconut milk I have used here. The calorie count may change if the chicken and other proteins are added. And note that this number is just an estimation only and you could find the detailed nutrition value in the recipe card above.
I really hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you on how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
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