What Is Thai Green Curry? Authentic Flavour, Ingredients & How to Make It
Thai Green Curry is one of Thailand’s most famous dishes, known for its fresh aroma, vibrant colour and balance of chilli heat, herbs and coconut milk.
In Thailand it is commonly known as Gaeng Keow Wan. A traditional green curry combines a fragrant Thai green curry paste with coconut milk, Thai herbs, vegetables and meat or seafood to create a curry that is aromatic, creamy and full of flavour.
Despite its creamy appearance, an authentic Thai Green Curry can be surprisingly spicy.
What Makes Thai Green Curry Green?
The distinctive green colour comes primarily from the fresh green chillies used in the curry paste.
Traditional Thai green curry paste may also contain ingredients such as:
- Lemongrass
- Galangal
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Makrut lime
- Coriander
- Thai herbs and spices
These ingredients are blended or pounded together to create the intensely aromatic paste that forms the base of the curry.
The colour can vary from bright green to a softer green once the paste is combined with coconut milk.
What Does Authentic Thai Green Curry Taste Like?
A good Thai Green Curry should have several flavours working together rather than simply tasting hot.
It is typically:
- Fragrant and herbal
- Spicy
- Creamy from coconut milk
- Savoury
- Slightly sweet
- Fresh and aromatic
Fresh green chillies give the curry its heat, while herbs and aromatics provide the fragrance.
Coconut milk softens the chilli and creates the rich texture people associate with Thai Green Curry.
Is Thai Green Curry Very Spicy?
Thai Green Curry can be quite spicy.
One common misconception is that Green Curry must be milder than Red Curry because of its colour. In reality, traditional Green Curry often uses fresh green chillies and can have a lively level of heat.
The exact spice level depends on the curry paste and how much is used.
When cooking at home, you can easily adjust the strength by starting with a smaller amount of paste and adding more according to taste.
What Is Thai Green Curry Paste?
Thai green curry paste is the concentrated mixture of chillies, herbs and aromatics that gives the curry its characteristic flavour.
Rather than preparing and grinding all the ingredients individually, a good-quality paste allows you to create an authentic-style Thai Green Curry much more easily.
The curry paste is normally cooked gently first to release its aromas before coconut milk and the other ingredients are added.
This step is important because it develops the flavour of the herbs and spices.
How Do You Make Thai Green Curry?
Making Thai Green Curry at home is relatively straightforward.
Start by gently cooking your Thai green curry paste until it becomes fragrant.
Add coconut milk and stir until the paste is evenly incorporated.
Then add your chosen protein, such as:
- Chicken
- Beef
- Prawns
- Tofu
Vegetables can then be added according to preference.
Traditional ingredients often include Thai aubergines, pea aubergines, bamboo shoots and Thai basil, although other vegetables can also work well.
The curry is simmered until the protein and vegetables are cooked and the sauce has developed a rich aroma.
Serve with steamed Thai jasmine rice.
What Vegetables Go in Thai Green Curry?
Thai Green Curry works particularly well with fresh vegetables.
Traditional Thai green curry often includes Thai round aubergines, pea aubergines, bamboo shoots and Thai basil.
If these are not available, aubergine, courgette, peppers or other vegetables can also be used.
Using genuine Thai vegetables and herbs where possible will give the finished curry a more authentic flavour and texture.
Green Curry vs Red Curry: What Is the Difference?
Thai Green Curry and Thai Red Curry share several ingredients, but their flavour profiles are quite different.
Green Curry generally uses fresh green chillies and has a fresher, more herbal character.
Red Curry traditionally uses red chillies and often has a deeper, rounder chilli flavour.
Both are commonly made with coconut milk, but Green Curry tends to taste brighter and more aromatic.
Green Curry vs Massaman Curry
Massaman Curry is generally much milder than Green Curry.
It uses warming spices such as cinnamon and cardamom and has a richer, deeper flavour.
Thai Green Curry is fresher, hotter and more herbal.
This makes Green Curry particularly appealing if you enjoy aromatic Thai herbs and a more noticeable chilli heat.
What Is the Difference Between Green Curry Paste and Green Curry Sauce?
Green curry paste is a concentrated mixture of chillies, herbs and spices.
Green curry sauce is the finished sauce created when the paste is cooked with ingredients such as coconut milk, seasonings and other flavourings.
Buying a curry paste gives you greater control over the final curry because you can decide how much paste, coconut milk and seasoning to use.
Discover RAYA Thai Green Curry Paste
At RAYA Grocery, we created our Thai Green Curry Paste to make it easier to prepare an authentic, aromatic Thai Green Curry at home.
Our curry pastes are made in Thailand using carefully selected ingredients and traditional Thai flavour profiles.
You can shop RAYA Thai Green Curry Paste online for UK delivery, or visit us at our shop in Borough Market, London.
If you enjoy authentic Thai flavours, explore our complete collection of RAYA Thai curry pastes, including Red, Massaman, Panang, Jungle Curry, Yellow Curry, Khua Kling, Gaeng Som and Tom Yum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Thai Green Curry?
Thai Green Curry is a coconut-based Thai curry made using green curry paste, fresh herbs and green chillies. It is known for its fragrant, spicy and creamy flavour.
What is Thai Green Curry called in Thailand?
Thai Green Curry is commonly known as Gaeng Keow Wan.
What makes Thai Green Curry green?
The green colour primarily comes from fresh green chillies and herbs used in the curry paste.
Is Thai Green Curry hotter than Red Curry?
It can be. Authentic Green Curry often uses fresh green chillies, which can produce a sharper chilli heat than some Red Curry pastes.
What is the best Thai green curry paste?
A good Thai green curry paste should have a strong balance of chilli, herbs and fresh aromatics rather than tasting simply salty or sweet. Look for a paste designed around authentic Thai flavour profiles.
Where can I buy Thai Green Curry Paste in the UK?
RAYA Thai Green Curry Paste is available from RAYA Grocery online for UK delivery and from our Borough Market shop in London.