Thai Yellow Curry Paste

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Indulge in the vibrant flavors of Thai cuisine with the ever-popular yellow curry! While many locals opt for convenient store-bought curry paste (and thereโ€™s absolutely nothing wrong with that!), making your own Thai yellow curry paste can elevate your dish to a whole new level.

Thai yellow curry paste in a jar with a spoon.

Ready to elevate your cooking? Letโ€™s dive into making authentic Thai yellow curry paste using ingredients you can easily find at your local market! Whether you’re cooking on a weeknight or prepping for a dinner party, this paste is your secret weapon.

I know how tricky it can be to track down some traditional ingredients called for, so Iโ€™ve got you covered with reliable substitutes that wonโ€™t compromise on flavor! Trust me, youโ€™ll end up with a mouthwatering paste that captures the essence of the vibrant curries from Thailand.

This versatile yellow curry paste is a fantastic addition to marinades and can be seamlessly stirred into your favorite sauces, stews, and stir-fries. Just picture the bold, aromatic spices unfurling in the heat of the panโ€”pure magic!

This recipe’s delightful blend of warm lemony flavors and a hint of spice is perfect for shrimp, chicken, tofu, and loads of veggies!

Ingredients

For the ingredient measurements and the entire recipe, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog post where the recipe card is located.

  • Onion: Look for a large yellow onion and slice it into 4 quarters after removing the ends.
  • Garlic: Trim the pointy end off the garlic heads and set them cut side up.
  • Ginger: Peel and slice the ginger.
  • Chili peppers: We love to use Thai chili peppers; they are small, red peppers. You can find them at any asian grocery store. If you can’t access them, the best substitute is the Chiles de Arbol found in the Mexican aisle at the grocery store.
  • Salt
  • Aromatics: Ground turmeric, mild curry powder, and ground corriander are all easily found at your local market.
  • Lemongrass paste: This can be tricky to find! We found it in Publix in the vegetable cooler near the garlic paste.

Step by Step Directions

For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the blog post to the recipe card.

  1. Roast the garlic, onion, and ginger in foil packs with a little oil.
  2. Squeeze the pulp from the garlic skin into a blender with all the remaining ingredients.
  3. Blend until a paste forms.

Tips For Success

  • Homemade yellow curry paste is a kitchen essential! You can keep it fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • For longer storage, it freezes beautifully for up to 2 months. I suggest pouring your batch into an ice cube tray for easy portioning, then simply transfer the frozen cubes to a zip-top bag. That way, you’ll have perfectly measured amounts ready to go whenever your curry craving hits.
Thai yellow curry paste in a jar.

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Thai Yellow Curry Paste

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Thai yellow curry paste in a jar with a spoon.
Indulge in the vibrant flavors of Thai cuisine with the ever-popular yellow curry! While many locals opt for convenient store-bought curry paste (and thereโ€™s absolutely nothing wrong with that!), making your own yellow curry paste can elevate your dish to a whole new level.
Sauce Fanatic
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Serving Size 8

Ingredients

  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 3 large heads of garlic
  • 6-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
  • vegetable oil
  • 8 whole Thai chili peppers, stems removed
  • 1 ยฝ tablespoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons ground turmeric
  • 2 tablespoons mild curry powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground coriander
  • 3 tablespoons lemongrass paste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350โ„‰.
  • Peel and cut the onion into 4 quarters, removing the ends. Place on a piece of aluminum foil. Slice the head off the garlics and place on a second piece of aluminum foil. Place the ginger on a third piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle everything lightly with oil. Wrap each one tightly in the foil and place on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15 minutes then carefully remove the ginger. Increase the temperature to 400โ„‰ and continue baking the onion and garlic for an additional 30 minutes.
  • Allow the garlic to cool enough to handle.
  • Squeeze the pulp from the garlic skins into a food processor or blender. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until blended into a thick paste.

Notes

Thai chilis: I use 8 in my recipe which makes a medium hot curry. Reduce to 4 for a milder curry or add as many as 15 for a hotter curry.ย 
Lemongrass paste: This can usually be found in the vegetable cooler near the garlic paste at the grocery store. I use the Gourmet Garden Lemongrass Stir-In Paste.
Storage: Thai curry paste will keep for about a week in the refrigerator. Or it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 1310mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.

CourseDinner
CuisineThai

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