As I mentioned in one of my early posts “A Taste for Thai Food”, I began experimenting with making Thai Curry Pastes when we lived in Argentina due to the lack of availability of tasty Thai food. Thai Curry Paste is a blend of aromatic herbs, spices and chilies that are pureed to a fine paste which you then fry in oil and whisk in coconut milk to make a sauce. The coconut milk tames the heat of the chilies, so even if you don’t care for things too spicy, you can tone it down to accommodate your palate. The addition of protein such as chicken, beef, pork, tofu or fish along with vegetables finishes the “curry” which is then served over rice to make a complete, tasty meal. The pastes are also key ingredients to other sauces and soups such as Tom Yum Goong (Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup) and Tom Kha Gai (Coconut Chicken Soup).
Now that I’m in back in the US, I can certainly simply buy curry paste in a jar, but I find that making it from scratch is really worth the time and effort, as the taste is so much fresher. While my local Whole Foods usually has fresh lemongrass, chilies and sometimes even galangal, a trip to the Asian markets just a few miles to the north usually provides me everything I need at a fraction of the cost. When we were at the Cape for the summer, I couldn’t find lemongrass, galangal or Kaffir lime leaves anywhere, so I ended up ordering online and was able to get what I needed within 2 days through Etsy. As I had to improvise when we lived in Argentina and some ingredients were not reliably available, so too did I have to pivot when I learned a friend is allergic to shrimp and I would not be able to serve the curry due to the shrimp paste that is typically included. I found that anchovy paste was a perfect substitute, with no discernible difference in the taste, and now I use it all the time so that I don’t have to be concerned about a shellfish allergy when menu planning.
THAI CURRY PASTES
These pastes are the basis for Thai Green and Red Curries. I typically make the Green with chicken and the Red with pork or beef, you can use any protein, including seafood or tofu with either. I also the pastes to make sauces to serve as an accompaniment with grilled fish, pork or chicken along with a mango or pineapple salsa. The Green is a bit more herbacious and citrusy due to the additional Coriander seed and the absence of dried chilies. The process is the same for both, with the addition of the soaked dried red chilies for the Red. While this may seem tedious to try to source the ingredients, it is so much better and fresher tasting than most store bought curry pastes that have preservatives to extend their shelf life. These make about 2 cups of each, so I divide them into small containers store some in the refrigerator for use within 2-3 weeks, share some with foodie friends and freeze the rest. You can also freeze it in individual portions (about 2 TBSP) in plastic bags.
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Spice. Grinder, Coffee Grinder or Mortar & Pestle
Ingredients
GREEN CURRY PASTE
- 1 1/2 TBSP Coriander Seeds whole
- 1 TBSP Cumin Seeds whole
- 1/2 tsp Black Peppercorns whole
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt Mortons
- 4 stalks fresh Lemongrass tender purple section only, about 4"
- 4 slices fresh Galangal about 1/2" slices
- 8-10 fresh Jalapeno peppers, stems removed (use 8 if using Serranos)
- 2 fresh Serrano peppers, stems removed
- 20 Green Thai "bird" chilies, stems removed
- 6 Cloves Garlic, peeled
- 2 Large Shallots, peeled
- 1 bunch fresh Cilanto Roots (or stems if you can't find cilantro with roots (Conserve leaves for another purpose)
- 8 fresh Kaffir Lime Leaves, spines removed
- 1 TBSP Anchovy Paste (1/2 tube) OR 1 tsp Shrimp Paste
RED CURRY PASTE
- 1 TBSP Coriander Seeds whole
- 2 tsp Cumin Seeds whole
- 1/2 tsp Black Peppercorns whole
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt Morton's
- 5 stalks fresh Lemongrass tender midsection only, about 4"
- 8 slices fresh Galangal (about 1/4" slices)
- 8 fresh Fresno Chilies fresh, stems removed
- 12 dried long red Chilies, such as New Mexico Hatch (hot), soaked in hot water for 20 minutes, stems removed and liquid drained.
- 20 Red Thai "bird" Chilies, stems removed
- 6 cloves Garlic, peeled
- 2 large Shallots, peeled
- 8 fresh Kaffir Lime Leaves spines removed
- 1 bunch fresh Cilanto Roots (or stems if you can't find cilantro with roots (Conserve leaves for another purpose)
- 1 TBSP Anchovy Paste (1/2 tube) OR 2 tsp Shrimp Paste
Instructions
- In a small saute pan, toast the Coriander, Cumin, Salt and Peppercorns over medium-high heat until fragrant. Toss or stir frequently to make sure the seeds don't burn.
- Transfer the toasted spices to a spice grinder or coffee grinder and process to a fine powder.
- Place the lemongrass and galangal in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse to chop. Galangal is quite coarse, so I find it helps to cut your slices into smaller pieces.
- Add the cilantro roots, shallots, garlic and lime leaves and pulse a few times.
- Add all of the chilies, spices and anchovy (or shrimp) paste and process until a fairly smooth paste forms, scraping down the sides frequently and mixing to make sure no large chunks remain. Be patient here, as it is a very fibrous mixture of ingredients and how quickly it blends together will depend on how powerful your food processor is.
- Transfer to airtight container(s) and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks or freeze.
Notes
KTINA’S TIPS
- This is another recipe that I tend to double when I make it due to the labor intensiveness of the process, and then I share with friends who are fans and keep several containers in my freezer. It’s a great project for a cold or rainy day, or that day that you have to be home for a repairman, etc.
- I have a Magimix food processor which has a very powerful motor and a large bowl that allows for a double batch (just barely). If you have another brand, you may find that you can only make a single batch (which makes a lot, so unless you have a lot of friends that you plan to share with, doubling isn’t necessary).
- If you have Asian grocery stores near you, it’s worth heading there as you are likely to find all of the ingredients you need, particularly lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shrimp paste (if using) and chilies. You will also find the prices to be much more reasonable, since many restaurants do their shopping at these stores and buy in bulk. If you don’t have the good fortune of having an Asian market near you, or can’t readily locate the ingredients, you can source them online through many sources such as Amazon, Etsy and some other specialty food websites.
- Many grocery stores stock fresh jalapenos, serranos and fresno chilies (which look like a red jalapenos, but they are actually different and have a firmer texture that is much better here), as well as Thai “bird” chilies. Look for chilies that are firm and free of blemishes. If you can’t find them easily, you can source them online including at Amazon and Etsy, which serve as go between for small specialty vendors. I had great luck with Melissa’s Produce (melissas.com) for Fresno chilies when I could not find them anywhere.
- If you can’t find cilantro with roots, which can be difficult, use the stems instead. When I can find cilantro with their roots attached, I grab it and rush to the Asian market to get the other ingredients as the results are really better with the roots.
- I usually slice my chilies in half to help the food processor . . . if you find brown/black seeds when you slice, toss them as they are starting to go off.
- I use Hot New Mexico Hatch chilies for the dried red chilies. They are available at many grocery stores, or readily available from many online sources. They don’t weigh much, so don’t order the 5 pound bag like I did or you’ll have enough for your lifetime.
- When soaking your dried chilies, they will float to the top, so I place a small plate or saucepan lid on them to keep them submerged. Make sure to take off the stems and drain the water.
- I use an old coffee grinder that I keep for the sole purpose of grinding spices and it works beautifully. It is really important to grind your spices, as the food processor will leave you with large chunks of peppercorns and coriander seeds, which are unpleasant in your curry.
- Traditional Thai curry pastes call for fermented shrimp paste, but since several friends have shrimp allergies, I have substituted anchovy paste with equal success and now simply use that . . . plus it’s much easier to find, especially if you don’t have an Asian market near you.
GREEN CURRY with CHICKEN
Whether using Green or Red Curry Paste, the process is the same as outlined here. I use the vegetables that most frequently turn up in this classic, but feel free to experiment with any protein or vegetables that you like or have on hand.
Equipment
- Deep Saute Pan or Wok
Ingredients
- 2 Boneless, skinless Chicken Breast halves cut into 2" pieces
- 2 TBSP Canola or Peanut Oil
- 2-3 TBSP Green Curry Paste 2 for less spicy, 3 for more
- 1 can Coconut Milk
- 1-2 TBSP Fish Sauce
- 1-2 TBSP Palm Sugar or Light Brown Sugar
- 4 fresh Kaffir Lime Leaves, spines removed substitute dried if you can't find fresh
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 2" chunks
- 1 8 ounce package Button Mushroom, cleaned
- 1 Cup fresh Green Beans cut into 2-3" pieces
- 1/4 Cup Cilantro leaves and/or Thai Basil leaves.
Instructions
- Pan sear chicken in a saute pan in a bit of oil over medium high heat until it is lightly browned all over. Remove from the pan and drain. (The chicken does not need to be cooked through, as it will finish in the curry sauce.)
- If using the same pan, wipe out any juice from the chicken. Add another TBSP of oil and when it is hot, add the curry paste and stir fry until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Whisk in the Coconut milk a little at a time, starting with the cream at the top of the can. Allow to come to a boil before adding more of the milk, whisking constantly.
- Reduce heat to medium (or medium low) and add the Kaffir Lime Leaves, 1 TBSP Fish Sauce and 1 TBSP Sugar and cook for 2-3 minutes, reducing heat so that it just simmering.
- Taste the sauce and adjust if it needs a bit more Fish Sauce and/or Sugar.
- At this point, if you are not ready to eat (or your rice is not ready), cover and turn off the heat until you are ready to eat.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and add the chicken and mushrooms to the sauce. Cover the pan and allow to cook for 3-4 minutes until the mushrooms have released their liquid, stirring occasionally to ensure the meat doesn't stick to the pan.
- Then the mushrooms have cooked, add the green beans and cook, covered, for 1 minute then add the peppers. Cook for 2-3 minutes and sprinkle with Cilantro leaves or Thai Basil leaves.
- Serve immediately with Jasmine or Basmati Rice.
Notes
KTINA’S TIPS
- Use the same process for Red Curry regardless of what protein you choose.
- I think it makes a big difference to pan sear your meat, chicken or tofu before adding to the sauce, otherwise the meat will “stew” and it’s juices will water down the curry.
- The curry should have a spicy, sweet, salty flavor from the paste, coconut milk, fish sauce and sugar and the lime leaves brighten it lending a citrusy note.
- If your sauce is too spicy, add more coconut milk. Not spicy enough, add more curry paste.
Kristina served this with striper and her mango salsa. Best thing I ever ate!