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Home » Recipes » Soups & Stews

20-Minute Thai-Style Vegetable Red Curry

This creamy, spiced-up, umami-blasted Thai-style vegetable curry is a lip-smacking treat! Made with plant based ingredients and ready in just 30 minutes. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner meal to pair with a side of quick white rice or flatbread.

Thai-style vegetable curry in a bowl made with red bell peppers, potatoes, and broccoli.
by Aly Michell Dated: March 2, 2021 Last Modified: August 28, 2023 8 Comments
171 shares
(This post may have affiliate links. Please see my disclosure.)
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  • What To Eat With Thai-Stye Vegetable Curry
  • What To Add To The Curry
  • How To Store 
  • Recipe Notes 
  • 20-Minute Thai-Style Vegetable Red Curry

If there's something I am ALWAYS in the mood for, it's hand-down a bowl of spicy, flavorful, cozy vegetable red Thai curry.

This recipe has been updated and improved. 

There are a plethora of curry varieties from Thailand, including red, green, yellow, and panang. They come in different flavors, but they are commonly made with a rich and creamy pour of coconut milk.  

For this dish, we’ll be going with a curry made with a vibrant Thai red curry (gaeng ped) paste. Red curry paste is made with spices including red chili pepper, garlic, lemongrass, shallot, coriander root, kaffir lime peel, and some salt.

Although curry paste can be made from scratch, I decided to go for the store-bought version. 

You know, to save on time. 

Additionally, it can be challenging to find all of the individual ingredients that go into a red curry paste - especially if you don’t have access to Asian grocery stores or food vendors. 

A good-quality red curry paste should be easy to find at many Asian grocery store. In a pinch, popular brands can be found in nearly any grocery store like Thai Kitchen.

Because I want to keep this recipe reasonably accessible, I will be using Thai Kitchen red curry paste. However, if you choose a different paste, you might have to use it to taste. 

For example, if you choose to use a different brand like Mae Ploy red curry paste (not vegan/vegetarian), a little will go a long way. It is on the saltier side. 

More Curry Recipes:

  • Vegan "Butter Chicken" (Murgh Makhani)
  • Vegan Tofu Palak "Paneer"

What To Eat With Thai-Stye Vegetable Curry

Because this dish has so many intense flavors, it’s best to serve it with a mild side. 

My favorite and easiest way to enjoy a refreshing vegetable curry is with a side of white rice from my handy rice cooker. 

I typically use any long-grain rice including jasmine rice and basmati rice. Flatbread is also another great option for this dish.

What To Add To The Curry

Red bell pepper, tomato paste, red curry paste, sugar, broccoli, potato,soy sauce, and basil.

For this recipe, I’ll be keeping it simple and use red bell peppers and broccoli. But, Thai curries are very flexible and you can add any of your favorite veggies. 

Common ingredients you’ll find in vegetable curries include bamboo shoots, Thai basil, mushrooms, tofu, kaffir lime leaves, green beans, potatoes, and sliced carrots. 

I wanted to keep this recipe relatively easy using ingredients that can be found at most grocery stores. Here’s exactly What I a using: 

  • Coconut milk - Along with red curry paste - coconut milk a must-have ingredient in most Thai curries. Be sure to get full-fat canned coconut milk. This ingredient will also help provide a deep and creamy curry dish. 
  • Red Curry Paste - Red curry paste is made with a mixture of fragrant ingredients. This will be our spice base. It is what creates the majority of the flavor profile in this dish. 
  • Tomato Paste - Because we’re working with a meatless Thai curry, another layer of umami is a good idea and that is where tomato paste comes in. 
  • Soy Sauce - Instead of salt, we’re using soy sauce to create a depth of umami that salt simply cannot offer. If you want to go gluten-free, use tamari instead. Or, you can find gluten-free soy sauce out in the market or online. 
  • Sugar - The sugar helps calm the umami and spiciness in this dish. Additionally, it helps with settling any of the acidity coming from the tomato paste. I used white sugar, however, brown sugar works fine too. 
  • Broccoli - Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables, so of course I had to add it in. I suggest cutting the broccoli into smaller florets for faster cooking and a more enjoyable curry. You don’t want the broccoli florets to be so large that it overtakes the dish.   
  • Red Bell Pepper - Red bell pepper is added near the end of the recipe. Add it to the end helps preserve some of its texture - we don’t want it to be soggy and limp. The red pepper also adds another layer of natural sweetness to this dish.  
  • Mexican Cinnamon Basil - I chose to use Mexican spice basil (also known as cinnamon basil) for this recipe simply because that is what I able to find. But, Mexican basil works just as well in this recipe. Both Mexican basil and Thai basil belong to the same basil family. Additionally, you might find both varieties used together or even interchangeably in many curry recipes. 

How To Store 

Store the curry in an air-tight container or reusable silicone bag in the fridge for up to 4 days. It can also be stored in the freezer for months. 

To reheat, thaw in the fridge the night/day before consuming, then warm in a pot over medium-low heat until heated all the way through. 

Add some water to the curry to thin it out a bit. 

Need to take lunch with you? Check out our Vegetarian Packed Lunch Ideas. 

Recipe Notes 

  1. If you want to add more vegetables to this dish - go for it! Frozen vegetables also work well in this recipe. 
  2. Be sure to use full-fat coconut milk that comes in a can. Low-fat coconut milk is not the same and the stuff in the cartons is often watered down. 
  3. Do not shake the can of coconut milk!
Veetable red thai curry with broccoli, potatoes, and red bell peppers.
Thai-style vegetable curry in a bowl made with red bell peppers, potatoes, and broccoli.

20-Minute Thai-Style Vegetable Red Curry

Aly Michell
Flavor-packed, Thai-style vegetable red curry made with sweet red bell pepper, broccoli, and tender potatoes. Cooked in just 20 minutes! Serve with a side of jasmin rice or roti.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Thai
Servings 4
Calories 326 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 13.5 fl oz coconut milk full-fat
  • 3 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 broccoli small, cut into florets
  • 1 potato medium, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into slices
  • cayenne pepper/hot chili powder to taste (optional)
  • Thai basil Or Mexican cinnamon basil (optional)

Instructions
 

  • In a heavy-bottom Dutch oven or pot, over medium-high heat, heat 6 tablespoons of the coconut cream for about 1 minute. (see recipe notes)
  • Once the cream starts to bubble and crack, stir in the red curry paste and mix frequently to avoid scorching. Cook until the paste has thickened and has the consistency of creamy peanut butter. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
  • Add the rest of the coconut milk, soy sauce, sugar, broccoli florets, and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Once at a boil reduce heat to a soft simmer.
  • Simmer the curry without a lid for 10 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender. Add the red bell pepper and stir in cayenne pepper to taste (optional). Simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Garnish with basil leaves and serve with a side of cooked jasmine rice or any long-grain rice.

Notes

  1. Take the cream resting at the top of the coconut milk. This will be used as your fat base to fry the curry. The rest of the canned milk will be used later in the recipe.
  2. e sure to check that the red curry paste is vegan. Some red curry pastes have fish sauce. 
  3. Use any coconut milk of choice, my favorite kind to use is Chaokoh. It’s very creamy with an intense coconut-y flavor. 
  4. To add last-minute heat to this dish, go for a pinch of red chili powder. 
  5. Do NOT shake the canned coconut milk. We need to use the fat that naturally sits at the top. Shaking the can will move the coconut fat. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1-servingCalories: 326kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 9gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 602mgPotassium: 1047mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 3712IUVitamin C: 187mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 6mg
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171 shares
Category: All, Entrees, Fall Recipes, Lunch, No Oil, Plant-Based Dinner Recipes, Soups & Stews

About Aly Michell

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Comments

  1. Eric L

    December 26, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I did a 4x batch and my wife and all 5 kids liked it - a "have-again" they say 🙂
    Next time I will add 1/4 tsp salt for the original recipe size, but other than that will leave as-is.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Aly Michell

      December 30, 2022 at 12:20 pm

      Glad you and your family loved the recipe!

      Reply
  2. Susan

    April 12, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    5 stars
    DELICIOUS!!! My husband said that it tastes just like it came from our favorite Thai restraunt. This is definately a keeper, thank you!!!!!

    Reply
    • Aly Michell

      April 13, 2022 at 7:06 am

      Thank you for trying out the recipe! Happy your husband loved it! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sahil Saini

    February 18, 2019 at 6:18 am

    Seems simple and fast to make. I have been looking for quick dishes with my crazy travelling schedule.

    Thanks for sharing this recipe!!!

    Reply
    • plantbasedandbroke

      February 23, 2019 at 6:16 am

      Ah, I understand the crazy schedule thing! Hope it gets better. 🙂

      Reply
    • Laura

      December 27, 2020 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great basic recipe. I plan on adding it to my weekly meal plan.

      Unfortunately I didn't have any curry paste I only had hot curry powder (I don't like spicy curry) so I just used some cumin, cardamom, turmeric and black pepper. I also didn't have a lime. It was delicious without it but it would be better with the lime juice.

      I like that the ingredients are always in my kitchen. I can use whatever vegetables are in my freezer. Next time I'll probably slice up a carrot and put it in with the potato.

      Reply
      • Dr. Kathleen Reay

        August 06, 2021 at 10:05 am

        5 stars
        This is a very delicious recipe! My husband loved it, too! It would be a great meal when company comes over for dinner. So quick and easy to prepare. I used rice vermicelli noodles to pour it over.

        Reply
5 from 4 votes

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Hi, My name is Aly Michell! I create plant-based recipes that are easy, accessible, using everyday cookware.

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