What Is Khua Kling? A Guide to Southern Thai Dry Curry
If you enjoy bold Thai flavours, Khua Kling is a dish worth discovering. This Southern Thai dry curry brings together chilli heat, aromatic herbs and spices in a dish with very little sauce.
At RAYA Grocery, our Thai Khua Kling Curry Paste is made in Thailand and received a Great Taste 1-Star Award in 2026. Here’s an introduction to the dish, how it differs from other curries and what to serve alongside it.
What makes Khua Kling different?
Many familiar Thai curries have a generous sauce. Khua Kling takes a different approach: the curry paste coats the ingredients closely, creating an intensely flavoured dry curry.
Minced meat is a popular choice because it breaks into small pieces that mix evenly with the paste. Pork, chicken and beef all work well.
The finished dish should be relatively dry, with the flavour concentrated around the ingredients rather than diluted into a large quantity of sauce.
Does Khua Kling contain coconut milk?
Traditional Khua Kling is made without coconut milk. This gives it a different character from coconut-based curries such as Massaman.
Without a creamy sauce to soften the overall flavour, the chilli and aromatics take centre stage. If you enjoy a fiery curry, Khua Kling is a good option to explore.
Prefer a gently spiced curry with a rich sauce? Take a look at our Thai Massaman Curry Paste.
How do you use Khua Kling curry paste?
A prepared paste gives you a convenient starting point for cooking Khua Kling at home.
Choose your main ingredient and prepare everything before you start cooking. Minced meat is straightforward to stir and combine with the paste; finely chopped vegetables offer another way to use it.
Follow the cooking directions on your jar for the amount of paste and the cooking method. The aim is to distribute the paste evenly and cook off excess moisture so it clings to the ingredients.
If you are trying Khua Kling for the first time, begin with a smaller amount of paste and adjust to your taste. You can build up the intensity as you become familiar with it.
What should you serve with Khua Kling?
Plain jasmine rice makes a simple accompaniment, giving each mouthful a contrast to the concentrated curry flavour.
Sliced cucumber and a separate vegetable dish can bring freshness and variety to the meal. You do not need several elaborate side dishes: rice, Khua Kling and some vegetables make a satisfying place to start.
Browse our rice and pulses to find rice for your meal.
Can you make a vegetable version?
You can use Khua Kling paste to flavour vegetables or tofu. Chop the ingredients into small pieces and allow excess moisture to cook away to keep the dish closer to the dry style of Khua Kling.
If you are cooking for a vegetarian or vegan diet, check the paste’s ingredient and allergen label before using it. A vegetable-based dish is only suitable when the paste and any added seasonings are suitable too.
Khua Kling or jungle curry?
Both are options for people who enjoy Thai curries without coconut milk, but their textures differ.
Khua Kling is a dry curry, with the paste coating the main ingredients. Jungle curry, also known as Gaeng Pa, has a lighter, broth-based sauce.
Choose Khua Kling when you want a concentrated dry curry. Explore our Thai Jungle Curry Paste when you feel like a curry with more broth.
Discover RAYA Khua Kling Curry Paste
Our RAYA Thai Khua Kling Curry Paste comes in a 200g jar and is made in Thailand. A Great Taste 1-Star Award winner in 2026, it brings fiery Southern Thai flavour to your home cooking.
Order online, or visit RAYA Grocery at Borough Market in London to explore our ingredients. You can also browse our full Thai curry paste collection to find your next dish.