March 09, 2020
IN Thai Cuisine
If you plan to join the ranks of the 38 million tourists who visited Thailand during 2019, your mouth is probably watering in anticipation of the delicious cuisine that awaits.
One of the dishes that should be at the top of your list for your visit is Thai curry. Prepare yourself with this basic guide to the five types of Thai curries.
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.
The paste used as a base for Kaeng Khiao Wan consists of cilantro, cumin, shallots, galangal, lemongrass, garlic, kaffir lime, shrimp paste, and lots of green chilies.
2. Red Curry
Kaeng Phet is as spicy as they come, bursting with the flavor of both fresh and dried red chillis. The other ingredients in this curry paste are:
- Ground coriander
- Peppercorns
- Garlic
- Lemongrass
- Galangal
- Kaffir lime
- Shallot
Thanks to the red chilies, you can expect a little sting when you eat this curry too.
3. Yellow Curry
The Kingdom of Siam is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by the Europeans. Yet, the British did have some influence over Thai cuisine during their domination of Asia during the 19th century.
In Thailand, the result of this was yellow curry. It’s made from a paste consisting of dried spices like coriander, turmeric, fenugreek, cumin, garlic, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and salt.
Sound appealing? Head over to our menu if you’d like to try some right now.
4. Panang Curry
Another foreign import, Panang curry originated in Laos. Today, the salty, sweet, peanut flavors of this thick curry are wildly popular amongst tourists and locals alike.
The dish owes its taste to a paste made of coriander root and seeds, galangal, cumin, and garlic. Many chefs add a few small touches of their own to put a unique spin on their version of this dish.
Traditionally, coconut milk is the only liquid used in this dish.
5. Massaman Curry
Massaman curry has an Islamic influence and originated in central Thailand during the 17th century.
It has a unique flavor among Thai curries, thanks to several unique ingredients. These include cardamom, cloves, star anise, bay leaves, white pepper, and cinnamon.
Massaman curry also features cinnamon and cloves, as well as more traditional ingredients like lemongrass, galangal, and coconut milk.
The Best Thai Curries to Try
Some of the most popular version of these curries include:
- Thai green and red curry with shrimp or chicken
- Panang curry with beef
- Massaman curry with beef
Vegetarians can enjoy Golden Vegetable Curry, which is yellow curry with tofu, eggplant, potato, or pumpkin.
The best part is that you don’t need to leave your home to enjoy Thai curries. You can get to try all the best authentic Thai foods by ordering online from Thai Ginger. For a real treat, pop into one of our restaurants, we’d love to meet you.
