Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (2024)

Thai Dinner | Curry | Spicy | Stovetop | Vegetables | Vegetarian

ByPraew

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Vegetarian Thai green curry recipe makes a vegetable-packed, creamy dish that’s ideal for vegans and anyone craving a saucy delight. Think tender, crunchy veggies swimming in a homemade curry sauce that’s so good, you’ll forget you’re at home.

Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (1)

Check out some of my other takes on this classic Thai curry: the meaty Thai green curry pork or my quick and easy green curry chicken stir-fry.

What is Thai green curry

Thai green curry is a traditional Thai dish known for its aromatic flavor. Key ingredients include green chilies, coconut milk, and a blend of herbs and spices. Often made with protein and vegetables, it offers a balance of spicy, sweet, and savory.

Vegetarian Thai green curry

This vegan green curry is seriously the ultimate comfort dish. Imagine a dreamy bowl loaded with creamy coconut milk and fresh veggies. And if you love a bit of heat, feel free to toss in some green chilies to kick up the spice!

Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (2)

The best part about Thai curries is how easy they are to make at home. Opt for store-bought curry paste when you’re pressed for time, or go for my homemade green curry paste recipe to capture that authentic Thai flavor you love.

Whether you’re vegetarian or just in the mood for a delicious, veggie-packed meal, this curry is a winner. Throw in your favorite greens and watch them soak up that sweet, savory, spicy, and umami-loaded green curry sauce.

Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (3)

Don’t forget to pair it with a side of jasmine rice or vermicelli noodles. It’s the perfect way to soak up all that saucy goodness, and you won’t want to miss a drop!

Why try this easy recipe

  • Personalize with your favorite vegetables: Go wild with the Thai green curry vegetables! You can add almost anything, from baby corn to bamboo shoots.
  • Curries are perfect year-round: Winter or summer, rain or shine, vegetarian curries are always a good idea. It’s a cozy bowl of warmth in the colder months and a feast when it’s warmer.
  • It’s reasonably healthy: Thai curries are loaded with herbs and spices plus vegetables that provide many health benefits.
  • It’s unbelievably easy: This vegetarian green curry recipe is a breeze to make! Just follow the simple instructions for an authentic Thai curry at home.
  • Crowd-pleaser: This recipe is versatile and can be adjusted to make it a hit with everyone. Feel free to toss in some extra protein like tofu or meat.

Ingredients

Ingredients can be sourced at Asian grocery stores and Asian markets.
The exact measurements are in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (4)
  • Coconut milk – Full-fat coconut milk adds a creamy texture to this vegan Thai green curry. It’s the base of many curries, offering a sweetness that perfectly balances the spiciness without overwhelming the flavors.
  • Green curry paste – Provided specially for this recipe, Nittaya green curry paste offers a store-bought version of authentic Thai flavors. It’s a vegan curry paste that’s perfect for making vegan Thai food. For those who prefer cooking from scratch, use my own Thai green curry paste recipe, which is also vegan. Alternatives are Mae Ploy and Maesri.
  • Bell peppers, yard long beans, Thai eggplants – Fresh vegetables like the ones I used bring crunch, color, and nutrients. Make sure to choose vegetables that absorb the flavors of the coconut curry sauce.
  • Sweet basil – Basil leaves add a fresh, fragrant taste and aroma.
  • Palm sugar – Palm sugar balances out the salty and spicy flavors of the curry paste. You can get palm sugar at any Asian grocery store or online at Amazon.
  • Salt – A pinch of salt enhances all the other flavors. Feel free to sub with fish sauce if you’re on a pescetarian diet.

Cooking instructions

  1. Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (5)

    1. Pour one-third (about 2/3 cup) of the coconut milk into a wok or pot over medium heat. Stir gently and heat until the milk starts to bubble but avoid boiling.

  2. Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (6)

    2. Once bubbles form, add green curry paste to the coconut milk. Fry the paste, stirring it for about 30 seconds to a minute, until it’s fully dissolved and releases its aroma.

  3. Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (7)

    3. Pour in the remaining coconut milk. Stir and let the mixture come to a gentle simmer, then season the curry. Stir in palm sugar and salt, mixing well until the palm sugar is completely dissolved.

  4. Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (8)

    4. Add in the vegetables: yard-long beans, bell peppers, and Thai eggplants. Simmer the curry for several minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in basil just before taking the wok off the heat and serve immediately.

Kitchen tools

  • Cutting board & chef’s knife
  • Measuring spoons & cups
  • Large wok or cooking pot
  • Granite mortar and pestle if you’re making the curry paste from scratch.
  • Wooden spoon or spatula

Recipe tips and tricks

  • Use fresh ingredients: Use fresh vegetables and herbs. Asian markets usually offer the freshest ingredients.
  • Balance the flavors: Thai cuisine is all about balancing the flavors. Taste as you go and adjust the sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors.
  • Make in advance: Thai curries often taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
  • Too spicy? Try adding a bit more coconut milk to make it creamier.

Vegetable options for vegetarian green curry

Here are some more vegetables options for your curry:

  • Bamboo shoots
  • Bell peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Snow peas
  • Baby corn
  • Eggplants
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Beans

How to serve

Serve your Thai green curry with rice or vermicelli noodles. Add a generous sprinkle of Thai basil before serving.

How to store and reheat

Let your leftover curry cool to room temperature. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It says good for up to 3–4 days.

Freezing instructions: Green curry can be frozen for several months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheating instructions: Reheat on the stove over low-medium heat. Alternatively, reheat it in the microwave.

Frequently asked questions

Is green curry spicy?

Green curry typically has a moderate spice level, coming from the green chilies used in the curry paste. The spiciness can be adjusted to taste by varying the amount of green chilies or curry paste, or choosing a mild type of chili.

What does green curry taste like?

Green curry combines the creaminess of coconut milk with aromatic herbs and spices, resulting in a balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors.

What makes green curry green?

The green color of green curry comes from green chilies used in the green curry paste.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, this vegetarian Thai green curry recipe is naturally gluten-free.

Authentic Thai curry recipes

  • Thai massaman chicken curry
  • Authentic Thai red curry
  • Authentic panang curry
  • Vegan yellow curry
  • Beef panang curry
  • Gaeng daeng

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Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe

Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (9)

This vegetarian Thai green curry is easy to whip up with creamy coconut milk, fresh vegetables, and simple seasonings.

Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (10)Praew

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Cuisine Thai

Course Main Course

Serving Size 2 people

Ingredients

  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons green curry paste
  • 3.5 ounces bell peppers
  • 3.5 ounces yard long beans
  • 5.5 ounces Thai eggplants
  • 0.35 ounces sweet basil
  • 1 tablespoon palm sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Pour one-third (about 2/3 cup) of the coconut milk into a wok or pot over medium heat. Stir gently and heat until the milk starts to bubble but avoid boiling.

  • Once bubbles form, add green curry paste to the coconut milk. Fry the paste, stirring it for about 30 seconds to a minute, until it’s fully dissolved and releases its aroma.

  • Pour in the remaining coconut milk. Stir and let the mixture come to a gentle simmer, then season the curry. Stir in palm sugar and salt, mixing well until the palm sugar is completely dissolved.

  • Add in the vegetables: yard-long beans, bell peppers, and Thai eggplants. Simmer the curry for several minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in basil just before taking the wok off the heat and serve immediately.

Notes

Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe – Hungry in Thailand (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to Thai curry? ›

The secret to making amazing Thai curries is to use plenty of aromatics, like onion, ginger and garlic. Choose full-fat coconut milk for its richness (you won't regret it!). Stirring in just a little bit of rice vinegar and sugar adds tons of complexity.

How to make Thai green curry taste better? ›

10 tips for the perfect Thai curry:
  1. Homemade paste for the best taste.
  2. Fresh Thai ingredients for vibrancy.
  3. Toast the spices to wake them up.
  4. Turmeric for colour and seasoning.
  5. Pound the paste to release its flavour.
  6. Fry the paste in coconut oil.
  7. Caramel adds sweetness and depth.
  8. Choose your protein.

What thickens Thai green curry? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

What's the difference between curry and Thai green curry? ›

Curry is curry, right? Well, no, in a word! Traditionally, all Thai curries were made with the same ingredients except for one thing: the chillies. Red curry was made with several red chillies for a fiery hot dish, while green curry was made with green chillies, and yellow curry was made with yellow chillies.

How do Thai restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

Often, Thai curries are made using coconut milk as the main liquid, which results in a creamy consistency. You can use as much or as little coconut milk as you wish based on your preference for texture, spice, and flavor.

What is the main spice in Thai curry? ›

Turmeric is the vital ingredient that gives this curry its yellow hue. Yellow curry is the mildest and often made with coriander, cumin, lemongrass ginger, garlic, and yellow or red chili. In addition to coconut milk, this curry has a rich taste with sweet and mild flavors.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

As we've mentioned, some Indian dishes use a cream-based curry sauce. Usually using a cream is combined with other thickening and flavour-adding ingredients, such as carmelized onions blended into a paste (or simply minced and clarified).

Do you put coconut milk or paste first in Thai curry? ›

Start with half the coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of paste (remember you can always add more later, but you cannot take out), and the protein you're using. Then finish with the rest of the ingredients (proportions below). Bring to a boil, and then let simmer until protein is cooked through.

Why do you put coconut milk in curry? ›

The fattiness of coconut milk works particularly well with spices and acid, which is why it's often included in traditional Thai and Indian dishes. Using coconut milk in other savory dishes can take some finesse though so the flavor doesn't take over the whole dish.

Which Thai curry tastes the best? ›

1. Green Curry. This Green Curry is one of the best Thai curries if you like hot, spicy food. It's creamy, fiery, and delicious, deriving its heat from a generous amount of green chilies.

Is Thai green curry healthy? ›

Curry, in general, is thought to be a healthy dish due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties. Although green curry dishes can be high in fat, they're high in beneficial nutrients, minerals, and protein intake. As long as you don't overindulge, curry is a healthy and tasteful dish no matter your taste preference.

What is the actual name of Thai green curry? ›

Green curry (Thai: แกงเขียวหวาน, RTGS: kaeng khiao wan, pronounced [kɛ̄ːŋ kʰǐaw wǎːn], literally "sweet-green curry") is a central Thai variety of curry.

What is the secret ingredient for curry? ›

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

What is special about Thai curry? ›

An interesting characteristic of Thai curries is that they are made of fresh ingredients only. Contrary to the Indian cooking, Thai restaurant prefers to use fresh herbs and spices to make the curry dishes, including fresh chillies and roots.

What gives curry more flavor? ›

​​Add spices​

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

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