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Thai curry paste

Sauces, pastes & condiments · Pastes

Thai curry paste

Pounded paste of chillies, lemongrass, galangal, garlic and shrimp paste; the flavour base of Thai red, green and massaman curries.

Also called: red curry paste, green curry paste, massaman paste, prik gaeng

1 recipe with it

Make it yourself: Thai red curry paste

Photo: Papa November, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

A thick, aromatic paste made by pounding fresh or dried chillies with lemongrass, galangal, shallots, garlic, kaffir lime zest, spices and shrimp paste. Green paste uses fresh green chillies and is herbal and hot; red uses dried red chillies; massaman and yellow add warm dry spices. Jarred pastes vary widely in heat and salt.

How it’s used

  • Fry in coconut cream to start Thai curries
  • Fishcakes (tod man pla)
  • Marinades for grilled chicken
  • Seasoning soups and stir-fries

Characteristics

Taste
Hot, aromatic and savoury with citrusy herbal notes.
Aroma
Strong lemongrass, galangal and chilli fragrance when fried.
Texture
Thick and slightly fibrous.
When cooked
Fry in oil or cracked coconut cream until fragrant and the oil separates before adding liquid.
Sold as
paste
Cooking uses
Mainly a seasoning, Commonly cooked, Suitable for frying
Common in
Thai, Lao, Cambodian

Varieties

  • Green curry paste
  • Red curry paste
  • Yellow curry paste
  • Massaman paste
  • Panang paste

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Refrigerated. Refrigerate after opening with a thin layer of oil on top; small portions freeze well.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Crustaceans.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Most contain shrimp paste (crustaceans) and some contain fish sauce; vegan pastes exist. Check labels for allergies.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Homemade paste — Pound chillies, lemongrass, galangal, garlic and shallot; omit shrimp paste for a vegan version.

Related ingredients

Recipes with thai curry paste

More pastes