Thai Green Curry in 30 minutes made by freshening up store bought curry paste OR with a homemade green curry paste! Whichever way you go, the one essential step to make a really great green curry is to fry off the curry paste.
Make this with chicken or even entirely meat free. With a sauce this good, you can put anything in it – and it will taste amazing!
Thai Green Curry recipe
The single most requested recipe is finally here!! We love the colour, the spiciness, and how fragrant the creamy sauce is.
Along with Pad Thai, Chicken Satay and Thai Red Curry, green curry is the gold standard by which we rate Thai restaurants.
It’s the curry we sweat and swear our way through, guzzling down water and wiping our brows when we confidently tell the waiter “give it to us the way it should be – extra spicy!!”
Luckily, when we make it at home, we can dial back the spiciness substantially. 😂 Whether made with curry paste in a jar OR homemade green curry paste!
“This can be a quick 30 minute Thai Green Curry made with store bought curry paste – OR go all out with a homemade curry paste!”
The BEST Green Curry Paste
With the fresh aromatic ingredients used in South East Asian curries, I’ll always be an advocate of making the curry pastes from scratch because it’s not possible to capture that flavour in jars. But it’s just not viable to do that every time I have a hankering for curry.
So I’ll reach for curry paste in a jar. I think the best green curry paste is Maesri (which also happens to be the cheapest at around $1.20). It’s sold at Woolies, Coles (I’m in Australia) and Asian grocery stores. (here it is on Amazon US).
Maesri yields the closest result to homemade green curry paste. I find the other brands to be too sweet with less green curry flavour – and strangely, they are spicier!
Pimping up curry in a jar
It’s inevitable using any curry paste out of a jar rather than making it from scratch that the curry will be lacking a certain freshness.
So what I do is freshen it up using fresh garlic, ginger and lemongrass.
Because “quick and easy” is the go here, I usually don’t even use fresh lemongrass, I use lemongrass paste. It works a treat!
What goes in green curry
The most popular version of green curry is Chicken, so that’s the base version I’m sharing today. While there’s no set rules about what goes in a Thai Green Chicken Curry, the most common combination seems to be chicken, eggplant and snow peas which is what I’ve gone with.
But it’s very easy to switch it out for another protein of choice, or to make it meat free so I’ve included directions in the recipe.
In addition to the curry paste (and pimping it up, if using jar paste), there’s actually not that many ingredients in Thai Green Curry.
Coconut milk – full fat please! Fat is where the flavour is, if you use low fat coconut milk the sauce will lack flavour. You could even use coconut cream, if you want a richer version!
Chicken or vegetable broth – chicken is better (deeper flavours) but vegetable is fine if making a vegetarian version.
Chicken – Thigh is best because it stays juicy even after the requiring simmering time to thicken the sauce
Asian (Japanese) Eggplant – brilliant sponge for soaking up the sauce. The small eggplants are ideal because the eggplant is cooked until soft and the skin holds it together. Sub with small normal eggplants, or if you dislike eggplants, try zucchini!
Snow peas – for colour and freshness
Sugar – for extra sweetness
Fish sauce – may not be needed if using paste from a jar. Yes it’s stinky but it’s essential for Thai curries and once cooked, it doesn’t taste fishy at all
Kaffir Lime leaves – it provides a earthy citrus fragrance to the sauce that’s inherent to green curry. It’s readily available in Australia nowadays, but if you can’t find it, then a lemongrass stalk will be a decent substitute. Freezes great – I almost always have some in the freezer.
Finishing:
Thai Basil – essential for a true green curry experience! Tastes like Italian basil with a slightly more aniseedy flavour
Lime juice – just a squeeze, for freshness!
What makes green curry green?
The colour mostly comes from large green chillies which aren’t that spicy, they are mostly for colour and flavour. The curry paste also has small Thai chillies which provide the fiery heat that green curry is known for.
If you make your own green curry paste, you can skip the spicy chillies without compromising on flavour!
How to make Thai Green Curry
The making part is very straightforward which is why if you use curry paste from a jar, green curry is something you can have any night of the week.
The essential step here is to fry off the curry paste, whether using store bought or homemade. This is the equivalent to sautéing garlic until golden, a step used in virtually all my savoury recipes.
Homemade vs curry in a jar
Here’s a comparison of the two. Flavour wise, it’s inevitable there is a difference but the curry in a jar version is still very, very good. Certainly better than many local Thai restaurants which are often far too sweet, weak, or watery.
The homemade curry paste version is also slightly greener – owing to the fresh chillies and coriander/cilantro blitzed into the paste.
Thai Green Curry is….
Very fragrant – from all the herbs and aromatics in the curry paste. It has a less “in your face” flavour compared to Thai Red Curry but it’s more fragrant with chilli than Thai Yellow Curry.
Creamy, sweet, and salty. But all too often, Thai takeout places make it far too sweet!
Spicy – it’s meant to be! Green Curry is spicier than most popular Thai curries, such asThai Red Curry, Yellow Curry, Massaman Curry. It’s about as spicy as Panang Curry – maybe even a wee bit spicier!
Sauce is not as thick as Thai Red Curry, it’s meant to be a thinner sauce. My theory is because if you simmer the sauce too long to make it thicker, the sauce turns dark and loses the fresh green colour. It kind of looks like spinach soup!
Completely addictive
Serve green curry with jasmine rice for a true Thai restaurant experience. And don’t forget some ice cold beer to temper the heat! – Nagi x
Make a meal out of it – try these on the side
Crunchy Asian Slaw on the side – great all rounder Asian salad that goes with all Asian foods
Asian Sesame Dressing for any fresh salad or steamed vegetables
To start – Chicken Satay Skewers or Thai Fish Cakes
Thai Green Curry
Watch how to make it
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Thai Green Curry
Ingredients
Curry – use ONE:
- 4 – 6 tbsp Thai Green Curry Paste (Maesri best) OR (Note 1)
- 1 quantity homemade green curry paste (Note 1)
Extras – for jar curry paste (Note 2):
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- 2 tsp fresh ginger , finely grated
- 1 tbsp lemongrass paste (Note 2)
Green Curry:
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup (250ml) chicken or vegetable broth, low sodium
- 400 g/14oz coconut milk , full fat (Note 4)
- 1 – 3 tsp fish sauce *
- 1 – 3 tsp white sugar *
- 1/8 tsp salt *
- 6 kaffir lime leaves , torn in half (Note 5)
- 350 g/12 oz chicken thigh , skinless boneless, sliced (Note 6)
- 2 Japanese eggplants, , small, 1cm / 2/5″ slices (Note 7)
- 1 1/2 cups snow peas , small, trimmed
- 16 Thai basil leaves (Note 8)
- Juice of 1/2 lime , to taste
Garnishes:
- Crispy fried Asian shallots , high recommended (Note 9)
- Thai basil or cilantro/coriander , recommended
- Green or red chillies slices , optional
- Steamed jasmine rice
Instructions
- Heat oil in a heavy based skillet or pot over medium high heat.
- Add curry paste (and garlic, ginger and lemongrass Extras, if using) and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until it mostly “dries out” – see video. Don’t breath in the fumes!!
- Add chicken broth and coconut milk, mix to dissolve paste.
- Curry in a jar seasonings: Add 1 tsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sugar, no salt.
- Homemade curry paste seasonings: Add 3 tsp fish sauce, 3 tsp sugar, 1/8 tsp salt.
- Add kaffir lime leaves. Mix then bring to simmer.
- Add chicken, stir then lower heat to medium so it’s bubbling gently. Cook 7 minutes.
- Add eggplants, cook 5 minutes until soft.
- Taste sauce. Add fish sauce or salt for more saltiness, sugar for sweetness.
- Add snow peas, cook 2 minutes until a bit softened, then stir through basil and lime juice. Sauce should have reduced but will still be a be on the thin side, not thick – that’s how it’s should be. DO NOT keep simmering – sauce will darken.
- Serve curry over jasmine rice with garnishes of choice.
Recipe Notes:
* Vegetarian – Asian eggplant, green beans, zucchini (pictured in post). Other vegetables that go great: broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, carrots, sweet or normal potato, pumpkin, mushrooms (cook to soft, great sponge!)
* Prawns / shrimp or fish pieces instead of chicken – add towards end, 3 to 5 min cook time
* Beef or pork – Use a quick cooking cut, cut into strips or cubes. I sear beef and pork first before adding into curry sauces, the flavour is better. Use any quick cooking cut, sprinkle with salt and pepper, sear to brown outside but leave inside uncooked. Then add into sauce just to finish cooking through. 11. Nutrition excludes rice and toppings.
Nutrition Information:
I adore Thai curries!
Proof:
And more Thai food favourites
Life of Dozer
He high tailed it out of the house pretty quickly when I started frying off the curry paste – he can’t handle the heat!! (Neither can I – I always forget not to breath in the chilli fumes!!)
Hi Everyone Can i freeze Nagi’s homemade green curry paste and also can the bought ones also be frozen? thanks in advance!!!!xx
Yes 100% Kerry! N x
This turned out to be amazing, with the home made curry recipe. i loved the way it was built from the basic ingredients and turned out to be a favorite
Nagi this was AMAZING!!! All i ever do is muck up curry, and my family were sceptical, but this made me look like i was a master! I used a store bought paste, Ayam brand. But i love your recipes so much i feel like i might be able to venture into making my own paste. Just as a side note, I used Kaffir Lime Leaves in a jar. Seriously this was the best!
After reading the rave reviews I am going to make this in a couple of days. I went to 5 stores- no kafir lime leaves or Thai basil. Am thinking about stopping by a Thai restaurant to see if they will sell them to me. I need to make a not so spicy version for a friend. Any recommendations on how many T of curry paste to use for a mild version. Was thinking 2. I did find your recommended brand.
Recipe said 4-6 Tblsp maesri curry paste so I put in 5. My partner was curled in a ball under the dining table sobbing and whimpering. He still had seconds though! I might use 4 Tblsp next time hahaha. Fantastic flavour and another better-than-restaurant winner. Definitely will make this again. Thank you Nagi! xx
😂 green curry is supposed to be on the spicy side! I’m so glad he went back for more though Chainie! N x
Hi I live in london and ordered the recommended brand of paste. It came in a 400g pot and in a sealed bag – it looks quite runny compared to your smaller jar. Is this ok to use?
Also can I sub the fresh Kaffir lime with dry?
Thanks!
New to cooking.
Excited to try!
Hannah x
Thanks for the ‘hand up’! Didn’t have exactly the things, but with some cupboard substitution, your guidance led me to a delicious pork green curry using the canned paste! Huzzah!
Hi Nagi,
I searched for the maesri brand and finally found it. However, my favourite thai curry is panang so I bought the panang paste. Would the recipe change much if I changed the green paste for panang paste?
Hi Kirti – panang is a different curry all together – something for me to put on my recipe list to test! N x
Would this be suitable for slow cooker (after frying off the curry)? Just want to throw everything in for a dinner party, early on in the day?
Hi Linda, not really unfortunately – you really want to simmer the curry. N x
Hello! I am planning on making this dish this weekend. We have H Mart in the area, but according to instacart, they don’t have the Kaffir lime leaves. I was going to order them on amazon, but I only see dried ones. Would that work?
Hi Brittany, you can sub with dried or use a bit of lime zest in their place 🙂 N x
So good! I made this for my husband and myself last night, and it was amazing. I had to use lemongrass instructions of kafir lime leaves and normal basil instead of thai basil, since we don’t have those two ingredients in Egypt, but it still turned out amazing. Thanks a lot for the recipe!
Another 5 star. Very nice Nagi. I only had a cheap jar of the paste, but added the extras and was still very nice. Need to hit online Asian store for more cooking wine and will buy the recommended one. My only problem here in Ireland is the Thia basil.
Love this dish. A new family favorite. I buy the store made paste and pimp it up. Use whatever veggies I have on hand along with some chicken thighs. My husband said he would pay for this dish so that about sums it up. I’m an Aussie living in New York and love recipetineats. Thanks Nagi!
This is so delicious! Very easy to make. 🙂
So good! Cooked this last and whoa it’s got some heat, but we loved it! I traded out the snow peas for green beans, because that’s what was on hand at the time. Thanks Nagi, I absolutely love all your tips and brand suggestions.
Perfect Samkelina!! N x
DELICIOUS!
What a beautiful dish! Also made the red curry and that was awesome too! My family loved it. Thank you so much. Yum!
I forgot to rate it. It’s a FIVE
Thanks so much Cheryl!! N x
I am so happy I found you Nagi! We just finished dinner and I had to comment. This Thai Green Curry was amazing! I followed the recipe to the tea including ‘pimping’ up the Maesri using frozen chopped lemongrass, who knew there was such a thing, but I have great Asian grocery stores in Westchester County NY. I can’t wait to make this for my daughters who love this dish. Just wait til they taste mine… I mean yours! I am now looking through more of your recipes and excited to try them out. You made me feel so accomplished. Thank You!
We made this on the weekend, and it turned out soooooo good! Thanks so much for the recipe. Can’t wait to try out other dishes from your website too 🙂