There are countless ways to put Thai Curry Paste to good use. They come in various flavors and are a simple way to add authentic Thai flavor to your home cooking. Here, we’ll go through the various types you may find at an Asian grocery store and the best ways to prepare them.
What is Thai Curry Paste?
A curry paste from Thailand is a blend of aromatics, spices, and herbs used to prepare “kaeng” (Thai for “curry”) foods.
Red and green Thai curries, as well as other Thai curries, are characterized by shrimp paste, onions or shallots, chilies, and garlic to create a spicy and aromatic dish. The coconut milk can be added to these cuisines. Lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, coriander, cumin, and cardamom are also present.
The texture of a Thai curry can range from soupy to thick, like gravy. It’s also possible to make a dry curry dish by employing the curry paste as the flavor base for a stir-fry.
It’s worth noting that while many people automatically think of curry powder when they hear the word “curry,” this is not typically used in traditional Thai cooking. Dishes inspired by Indian cuisine and prepared with curry powder or other Indian spices are referred to as “kari” in Thailand.
However, a yellow curry paste, “typically branded karee curry paste,” does exist, and it may be used to make an Indian-style curry because it contains turmeric and curry powder.
The green and red versions of Thai curry paste are our go-to’s.
How to use it?
The nicest part about this component is that all the aromatics and spices you need are already included. Thai curry pastes remove the hassle and time commitment of hunting for exotic spices and other ingredients to make authentic Thai curries.
Even in Asian grocery stores in the United States, galangal and kaffir lime aren’t common ingredients. Even authentic Thai eateries frequently resort to store-bought curry pastes instead of preparing their own.
We put them to good use in recipes like Red Curry Tofu, Green Curry Chicken, and Red Curry Chicken. We often use them into unique salads, soups, and noodle dishes for an extra kick.
Purchasing and Storing
For authentic Thai curries, we always reach for Maesri. We always keep red and green curry paste on hand to quickly and easily prepare authentic Thai meals.
Thai curry paste is widely available in Asian markets and may also be carried by some Western supermarkets these days. It’s also really simple to locate on the internet.
Keep canned goods in the pantry or another cool, dry place. Make sure to use clean hands at all times.
The shelf life of uncontaminated leftover curry paste in the refrigerator is about two weeks. It can be frozen in an airtight container for long-term storage until it is needed again.