Thai Green Curry is a spicy, fragrant, coconut-based curry made with lemongrass, galangal, and fresh green chili peppers. Included in the recipe are answers to any questions you might have about using store-bought curry paste versus making it from scratch.
It’s Thai Curry Week and we’re kicking things off with one of my favorites – green curry! Thai Green Curry with Chicken was one of the very first meals that Frank and I had when we moved to Bangkok way back in 2010. And here’s what I remember about that very first taste of Thailand: a 5-alarm fire. That curry was SO spicy!
Fortunately that flaming hot green curry experience did not scare me away from this delicious dish. Over my years in Thailand I learned that, although all Thai Green Curry is spicy, it’s not all as spicy as that first one. If you don’t have a high tolerance for spice but want to make this curry at home, fear not – I have lots of options for you! And beneath all that spice, this curry is one of the most fragrant and flavorful. It’s filled with aromatic lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and lime zest. Best of all, once you’ve got the curry paste, it’s a breeze to make it. Here’s how!
P.S. This is the last week of Thai Food Month! Be sure to get yourself some Thai food this week and enter the contest over on Instagram to be entered to win the $100 prize!
Ingredients in Thai Green Curry
- Coconut Milk – Use regular (not light) coconut milk. You’ll use some of the coconut milk to cook the curry paste in at the beginning and some will be added later to simmer all of the ingredients together.
- Thai Green Curry Paste – This firm green paste gives the curry all the flavor it needs. You can use store-bought or homemade curry paste (see below for details).
- Chicken Thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay super tender in this curry and add savory flavor to the broth. There are lots of other options you can use instead of chicken thighs, so keep reading if you’d like to use a substitute.
- Kaffir Lime Leaves – These very firm, fragrant leaves come from the kaffir (or makrut) lime tree. Outside of Thailand, they can be found at Asian / international grocery stores and are sold either fresh or frozen. Check out the Guide to Essential Thai Ingredients for more information on this unique ingredient.
- Thai Green Eggplants – These tender, slightly bitter eggplants are commonly used in green curry. Just about any vegetable will work though, so feel free to use another vegetable if you can’t track these down.
- Palm Sugar – This is a lightly sweet, subtly citrus sugar that comes from coconut palm or sugar palm trees. It is sold in small dried cakes. It is easiest to measure if it is grated or soaked in a small amount of warm water for about 10 minutes until soft. Light brown sugar will work as a substitute in this curry.
- Fish Sauce – Fish sauce provides the authentic flavor of a true Thai Green Curry. It adds a savory umami richness that rounds out the dish. If you’re making a vegetarian version, soy sauce can be used as a substitute.
- Thai Basil Leaves – Be sure to add these leaves at the very end of cooking. They will wilt into the finished curry and add a bright, fresh flavor. Thai Basil is a different variety than the Italian-style basil sold at most grocery stores in the West. Do NOT use Italian basil in a Thai curry. It’s better to just skip this ingredient if you can’t find Thai Basil.
How to Make Thai Curry Paste
The steps for making Thai curry paste are:
- Roast Shrimp Paste
- Toast dry spices in a skillet or wok
- Grind dry spices in a mortar and pestle
- Combine fresh ingredients, dry spices, and shrimp paste in a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor and blend until smooth
Note: The easiest way to roast the shrimp paste is to wrap it in foil and fully enclose it. Then place the packet of shrimp paste on a hot skillet and cook on both sides until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. This helps to release the flavors.
Ingredients for Thai Green Curry Paste
The ingredients for Thai Green Curry Paste are:
- Shrimp Paste
- Coriander Seeds
- Cumin Seeds
- White Peppercorns
- Lemongrass
- Galangal
- Shallots
- Garlic
- Lime Peel
- Cilantro Root
- Serrano Chili Peppers
- Salt
If shopping outside of Thailand, lemongrass stalks are available at well-stocked or specialty grocery stores. Galangal, kaffir limes (for the lime peel), and cilantro roots (you’re looking for the actual root of the herb, but can use the stems if needed; do not use cilantro leaves) are often sold frozen at Asian or international grocery stores. The frozen versions work very well if fresh are not available.
Serrano Chili Peppers are not traditional in green curry paste, but they are my preferred chili pepper here. Serranos are easier to find outside of Thailand and less spicy than the Bird’s Eye Chilis that are typically used. You can, of course, use Bird’s Eye Chilis. Green jalapeños are another option. See the recipe below for suggested amounts to use for these substitutes. With any type of chili pepper, you can reduce the heat of the curry paste by first slicing the chilis in half lengthwise and using a spoon to scrape out the seeds and pith. Choose your own adventure with the chili type and method, according to your tolerance for spice.
For more information on all of the ingredients needed for Thai Curry Paste, check out the Guide to Essential Thai Ingredients.
Store-Bought vs. Homemade Thai Curry Paste
While it can be rewarding and delicious to make your own green curry paste, if you’re just starting to explore Thai Green curry, store-bought curry paste makes the process a breeze. Many commercial versions of Thai curry paste are very good and will give you an excellent curry. Here are the two types of store-bought curry paste I use most often.
Thai Kitchen – Walk down the international aisle at any well-stocked grocery store and you’ll likely find Thai Kitchen Curry Paste in small 4-oz jars. It’s super affordable and these small jars are great if you just plan to make a batch or two of curry over the next few months. American-made versions of Thai curry paste like this one are significantly less spicy than their Thai-made counterparts, so this is a great brand to start with if you’re hesitant about spice. I find this curry paste to be loaded with all the flavors I look for like lemongrass and galangal and, for me, it’s hardly spicy at all. I can give green curry made with Thai Kitchen green curry paste to my kids (it’s that mild).
Mae Ploy – This is the tried-and-true Thai brand of curry paste that I used when I lived in Bangkok and have reliably found at Asian / international grocery stores. It comes in larger 14-oz tubs, so if you plan to make a lot of curry, it’s worth tracking down. Because this is a Thai brand, it is significantly more spicy than Thai Kitchen mentioned above. The flavor has more of the shrimp / seafood elements and is more subtle on the aromatics. Not surprisingly, this makes a Thai green curry that tastes most like what I remember eating in Thailand. Green curry made with Mae Ploy green curry paste is generally too spicy for my kids.
What is the Oil on top of Thai Curry?
People visiting Thailand often comment that the curries look oily or greasy. However, beads of oil on the surface of a curry are a sign that what you are about to eat is an authentic version of Thai curry. Every authentic recipe for Thai curry starts with “breaking” the coconut milk. This step of simmering coconut milk in a dry, hot pan separates out the natural oils in the coconut milk and provides a base for cooking the curry paste that will maximize its natural flavor.
Variations on Thai Green Curry
- Vegetarian – Easily make a vegetarian version of Thai Green Curry by using tofu or mushrooms and adding even more vegetables if you’d like. The curry includes fish sauce, but for a vegetarian version soy sauce can be used as a substitute. You’ll also need to track down a curry paste that does not include shrimp paste (or make your own green curry paste and omit the shrimp paste).
- Change Vegetables – This version of green curry uses Thai eggplants which are a fairly traditional vegetable to use in green curry. Feel free to use any other vegetables you’d like – bell peppers, squash, green beans, mushrooms, potatoes, or snow peas would all be great.
- Change Protein – Instead of chicken thighs, try this with chicken breast, fish (shrimp, scallops, or a white fish like halibut are great), or tofu.
Favorite Tools
- High-Walled Pot for Cooking – Curry can be easily made in any pot with tall sides. A Dutch oven, wok, or saute pan will work well.
If you are going to make curry paste from scratch, using the recipe below, you’ll need these tools:
- Mortar and Pestle or Spice Grinder – You’ll need one of these tools to most easily grind up the spices used in the curry paste. If you use a spice grinder, be sure that you have a dedicated one for spices. (Don’t use your coffee grinder or your coffee will taste like Thai food!)
- High Power Blender, Food Processor, or Mortar and Pestle – You’ll need one of these tools to blend the curry paste. A blender or food processor are, of course, not traditional but they are very fast. A blender will produce the most smooth curry paste while a food processor typically produces a curry paste that is even but has a rougher texture. A mortar and pestle like the one linked above is a more traditional method and is a great investment if you make a lot of Thai food from scratch.
Thai Green Curry with Chicken (Kaeng Khiao Wan)
Green curry is one of the most fragrant Thai curries and is made with lemongrass, galangal, and fresh green chilis. This is a classic version made with tender chicken thighs and Thai eggplant simmered in a spicy, coconut-based, green curry broth.
Want to adjust the servings in this recipe to make more or less? Just click on the number next to “servings” and you can easily scale the recipe.
- 1 3/4 cup Coconut Milk, divided
- 3 Tbsp Thai Green Curry Paste ((see note))
- 1 lb Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, cubed
- 2 cups Chicken Stock
- 3 Kaffir Lime Leaves ((see note))
- 8 Thai Green Eggplants, quartered ((optional))
- 1 Tbsp Palm Sugar ((see note))
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1 cup Thai Basil leaves
- Thai Jasmine Rice, for serving
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Heat a Dutch oven, wok, or saute pan over medium heat. Add ¾ cup coconut milk (if using canned coconut milk that has separated, use the top, thicker portion of the milk) to the pan. Simmer coconut milk, stirring constantly, until it has reduced by half and you can see oil separating from the milk, 5 to 6 minutes. (Note: This step to “break” the coconut milk is part of the traditional process, but don’t worry if your coconut milk doesn’t show signs of separating after this initial cook time – just proceed with the recipe.)
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Add curry paste and saute until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
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Add chicken thighs and stir to coat in the curry paste.
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Pour chicken stock and 1 cup coconut milk over chicken.
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Stir in kaffir lime leaves, eggplants, palm sugar, and fish sauce. Bring to a simmer and let curry simmer gently until chicken is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. (Reduce heat as needed to prevent the curry from reaching a hard boil.)
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Taste the curry and adjust the flavor, adding more sugar or fish sauce if needed. Remove and discard kaffir lime leaves.
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Remove curry from heat and stir in Thai Basil leaves.
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Serve curry over rice.
Thai Green Curry Paste – Feel free to adjust the amount of curry paste, increasing for more spice and decreasing for less spice. American-made curry paste like Thai Kitchen (which is widely available in the international aisle of regular grocery stores), tends to be much less spicy than Thai brands which can be found at international or Asian grocery stores. If you prefer to make your own Thai Green Curry Paste see below for the recipe.
Kaffir Lime Leaves – These very firm, fragrant leaves come from the Kaffir (or Makrut) Lime tree. Outside of Thailand, they can be found at Asian / international grocery stores and are sold either fresh or frozen. These can be fairly tough, so be sure to remove the stems and slice them as thinly as possible before adding them to the curry.
Palm Sugar – Grate the palm sugar for the most accurate measurement. You can substitute light brown sugar, but reduce to 2 tsp.
Thai Green Curry Paste
Thai green curry paste is a spicy, fragrant curry paste that includes fresh green chilis, aromatics like lemongrass and kaffir (makrut) lime peel, and dried spices.
This makes about 1 cup of curry paste.
Want to adjust the servings in this recipe to make more or less? Just click on the number next to “servings” and you can easily scale the recipe.
- 1 tsp Shrimp Paste ((see note))
- 2 tsp Coriander Seeds
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1/2 tsp White Peppercorns
- 2 Tbsp very thinly sliced Lemongrass
- 1 Tbsp diced Galangal
- 1/4 cup diced Shallots
- 3 Tbsp thinly sliced Garlic
- 1 tsp grated Lime Peel ((from a kaffir lime; substitute lime zest from a regular lime))
- 1 tsp diced Cilantro Root ((sub finely chopped cilantro stem if cilantro root is not available))
- 4 Serrano Chili Peppers ((see note))
- 1 tsp Salt
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Place shrimp paste on a small piece of foil and then fold the foil up to form a packet that completely encloses the shrimp paste.
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Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Place shrimp paste packet onto heated skillet and toast for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until fragrant. Set aside.
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Return skillet to medium-high heat and add coriander seeds, cumin seeds and white peppercorn. Toast spices, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes.
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Grind coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and white peppercorn using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder until they form a fine powder. Set ground spices aside. (Note: if you don’t have a mortar and pestle or a dedicated spice grinder, you can also pulse the dried spices in the blender or food processor, but it may take up to 10 minutes of blending / pulsing until a fine powder forms.)
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If using a mortar and pestle:
Using a mortar and pestle, grind lemongrass, galangal, and salt until smooth.
Add shallots, garlic, lime peel, and cilantro root. Grind again until smooth.
Add chili peppers and grind once more until smooth.
Add shrimp paste and dried spices. Continue to grind / mix everything together until even.
If using a blender or food processor:
In a blender or food processor, combine lemongrass, galangal, shallots, garlic, lime peel, cilantro root, chili peppers, and shrimp paste. Blend until the mixture forms a paste that still has a small amount of texture, pausing to scrape down the sides as needed. (Note: if the mixture does not blend easily, add water a bit at a time, as needed, to help it blend.)
Add dried spices and salt and blend just until the spices are fully mixed in.
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Taste curry paste and season with some additional salt, if needed.
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Curry paste can be stored in the refrigerator for about 1 week or frozen for up to a year.
Shrimp paste (typically labeled as “kapi” or “gapi”) can be found at an Asian / international grocery store. It is most often sold in a jar with a good amount of oil. It can sometimes be found in firm blocks that might need to be slightly hydrated before using. Jarred or tinned anchovies are the Western equivalent and could be used as a substitute to give the curry paste the same rich, seafood, umami flavors. To make Thai curries, the shrimp paste is always roasted before cooking to release its flavor. For simplicity, we wrap the paste in foil and just toast it in a skillet before using it.
Want to make a vegan or vegetarian curry? Just skip the shrimp paste.
Serrano Chili Peppers – Traditional green curry paste is made with Thai Bird’s Eye Chilis that are very small and extremely spicy. Serrano Chili Peppers are easier to find outside of Thailand and are less spicy than Bird’s Eye Chilis. I included Serrano Chili Peppers here because I find them so much easier to work with when making this recipe. You can absolutely use Thai Bird’s Eye Chilis in this recipe, but use 10 Bird’s Eye Chilis instead of the 4 Serrano Chili Peppers listed. Another option is to use green jalapeños, in which case, use 6 jalapeños. With any type of chili pepper, you can reduce the heat by first slicing the chilis in half lengthwise and using a spoon to scrape out the seeds and pith. Choose your own adventure with the chili type and method, according to your tolerance for spice.
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