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.
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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!
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Chicken or vegetable broth – chicken is better (deeper flavours) but vegetable is fine if making a vegetarian version.
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Chicken – Thigh is best because it stays juicy even after the requiring simmering time to thicken the sauce
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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!
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Snow peas – for colour and freshness
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Sugar – for extra sweetness
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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
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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:
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Thai Basil – essential for a true green curry experience! Tastes like Italian basil with a slightly more aniseedy flavour
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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….
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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.
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Creamy, sweet, and salty. But all too often, Thai takeout places make it far too sweet!
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Spicy – it’s meant to be! Green Curry is spicier than the other three very popular Thai curries on this site – Thai Red Curry, Yellow Curry and Massaman Curry
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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!
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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
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Crunchy Asian Slaw on the side – great all rounder Asian salad that goes with all Asian foods
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Asian Sesame Dressing for any fresh salad or steamed vegetables
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To start – Chicken Satay Skewers or Thai Fish Cakes
More Thai takeout favourites
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Pad Thai – truly just like takeout!
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Starters – Chicken Satay and Thai Fish Cakes
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Pad See Ew – Thai stir fried noodles
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Browse the Thai recipe collection
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:
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!!)
Gold! Again I’ve done well over 20 of your recipes Nagi and all were so simple to do and %110 amazing
My friends ask me how do I make such amazing meals and I don’t lie I tell ‘‘em about Nagi!
Delicious! My whole family enjoyed it. Love the way you explain everything and the various options. We were able to tweak it just to our liking.
This is the BEST green curry recipe I’ve ever made. It is honestly on par, if not better than my favourite Thai shop’s green curry. Only had it two weeks ago and I’m making it again this fortnight
This recipe was absolutely amazing and fragrantly delicious!!! I wonder if I can use salmon next time for a change from chicken?
Sure you could – Make the curry sauce as per usual then I would just add it for the last 1-2 minutes so it doesn’t overcook! N x
Awesome- Thank you!! Can’t wait to try!!
I cooked this today and wow amazing yum
I used Maesri brand green curry paste and added the lemongrass, ginger and garlic to it.
I used snow peas and broccolini instead of eggplant.
The only thing the curry wasn’t very thick, more soupy but the flavours are amazing in this Thai curry.
The green one is traditionally a bit thinner than other Thai curries. You can reduce it down further or use coconut cream if you like it thicker. N x
Oh this is delicious. I had a green curry on vacation at a restaurant and it was much milder but I’m liking the spiciness. I used green bean and bell pepper instead of eggplant and snow peas. Lemongrass flavor is wonderful. I’m glad you said to stay away from the fumes!
Green curry is meant to be one of the hottest of the Thai curries but some places do make it milder for Western palates. I’m like you…bring on the spice! N x
This recipe is so easy to follow and creates the most authentic at home Green Curry!! Thank you for your amazing and easy to follow recipes – I love all the extra tips, photos and care taken regarding cooking different brands slightly differently to get the best results!
YUM
YES! N x
Thank you for helping me make Thai Green curry. That is something very new for me to try making and I appreciate your video and step by step instructions. It turned out very tasty.
That’s great Lana! I’m so glad I could help!! N x
Have made this curry a few times now using the green maesri paste. So easy! And the extra “add-in” ingredients make such a difference. Delicious 😋 Thad n you Nagi
Another belter Nagi, thank you ❤️ served with your smashed cucumber salad 👍🏻
That’s an awesome combo!! N x
I cooked this exactly to recipe (the tinned paste as recommended plus the pimping) and served it to my sister and bro-in-law who are total GCC snobs and they told me its only the second best they have EVER eaten (best was a place in Broome) and better than restaurants here in Perth. I was so proud of myself and of course a big thank you to your recipe.
I made this curry about 3 times and it’s legit the best one I’ve ever had. Even better than the one from my local Thai restaurant.
My issue however.. is that the last 4 attempts have gone to hell.. I do as I always do but the taste either gets this.. rotten taste despite all ingredients being fresh or the coconut cream splits… sometimes from the start but other times about when I add the chicken. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.. I keep the heat medium and make sure it doesn’t boil too hard.
Please help
Hi Oskar – have you changed any brands (fish sauce, coconut milk?) since the first few times you made it and it worked? N x
I didn’t the first time.. but when it started splitting I started changing to see if it was a bad batch but so far I have been unable to make it.
Only big difference is that I have gone from frozen chicken to fresh.
Hello, I had this happen too and finally found it was actually the fat from the chicken. I used paper towel to soak it up from the frypan (before adding the paste). Someone else may have a better way of removing the fat. Hope this helps.
Just made this again and this time cut the fat off the chicken first, much easier than soaking it with paper towels after its in the frypan. I’m a newbie at cooking but I hope this helps someone!
Absolutely phenomenal! It’s incredible how you can take complex recipes and make them accessible for the everyday person to cook at home. Thank you so much Nagi!!
We absolutely loved this meal! MIKE’S ORGANIC CURRY LOVE, Green Thai curry paste is flavorful, but not spicy. I used one packet of paste, but will use two packets next time.
Hi Nagi –
Asked my partner if we could have this for dinner last night (I was working – their turn to cook!) –
Had most ingredients to hand – Ayam brand green curry paste – zucchini instead of Japanese eggplant – and coconut cream as you said it could be subbed for the milk – but otherwise as per recipe. And it was – as usual! – superb! Really much nicer than any takeaway green chicken curry I’ve had anywhere for ages.
Will definitely make this again – Thank you!!
I am so glad that you enjoyed it Ron! N x
Hi Nagi
Cooked this three times. Used Valcom paste twice and it was excellent.
I am so glad it was tasty CD! N x
Sorry Nagi, but this lacks authenticity. Have you seen Uncle Roger’s roast of Jamie Oliver’s version of TGC at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vksB2S90FVY? Well, yours is a lot better but a lot of his comments still apply:
– only six, one or even zero chillies – no!
– use of snow peas (mange tout) – no
– food processor – no
– lime juice in the curry – no
– white sugar – no (its for poor people, according to UR).
– rice – please use a rice cooker – as UR says, World War 2 is over and everyone in Asia uses rice cookers, not a saucepan. Even Harvey Norman sells a large range of them!
BA HA HA! I will have a watch!!! Can’t have Uncle Roger roasting me 😂