There’s always something special about Asian food. Hence, curry pastes are obviously on top of the list, giving many of your regular dishes a real taste twist. Likewise, Thai red curry paste uses are many, and we are ready to share them all with you in this feature.
On the contrary to the idea that its name suggests, Thai red curry paste can be something beyond apart from being only a part of “curries”. The best ways that this paste could be a part of your meal would include:
- In ground meat mixtures
- To be incorporated in stir-fries
- In eggs
- With meat, fish and seafood dishes
- With vegetables
- As a flavor enhancer in marinades
- In dips, sauces, and dressings
- In fusion dishes
- With soups and stews
- In rice, noodle, pasta, and spaghetti dishes
- In sandwich spreads
So, we are ready to enlighten you with these super awesome Thai red curry paste uses that will change your meals like never before. Read till the end!
11 Smart Thai Red Curry Paste Uses
The fact that this paste is a key ingredient and base of many traditional Thai curries is no secret. But did you ever believe you could use it in many bright and unexpected ways?
Sticking to stereotypical recipes or cooking methods is really an old way now. In fact, this curry paste is loaded with pungency, zest, and punch. So, therefore, it comes with bonus versatility to be used in many ways beyond a typical, boring curry.
So, here we go!
01- In Ground Meat Mixtures
Options are limitless when it comes to incorporating red curry paste with ground meat! You can use this with anything like ground pork, beef, chicken, turkey to make sausages, meatloaf, burgers, or meatballs.
A dollop or two in ground fish or shrimp would be an excellent taste twist when you make fish cake or shrimp cake.
This will be a scrumptious complement even when you prepare ground meat or seafood fillings for finger food like spring rolls, samosa, patties, etc.
02- To Be Incorporated In Stir-Fries
Thai red curry paste could be the ultimate base sauce for many stir-fried dishes. The taste it imparts is pretty adaptable and easy as you will get so many flavors with just one paste.
You can just saute it, add coconut milk, stock, or broth, and season it using a sauce like fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. Throw in any vegetable or meat that you want to stir fry and savor the incredible taste it has to offer you!
Stir-frying anything you want with only curry paste will give a more concentrated flavor, so you can leave it to be a dry dish. If not, you can add a liquid base to incorporate with the paste to get a saucy stir fry.
03- In Eggs
Surprising, isn’t it! But, honestly, eggs and Thai red curry pastes go super well together, creating egg dishes that you never tasted before. If you are on a healthy diet and bored of eating bland scrambled eggs, try a scoop of red curry paste in your dish (thank us later!).
In addition, there is a popular steamed egg dish in Thailand called “Haw Mok,” basically made with red curry paste, beaten eggs, and coconut milk. You can try this recipe for a quick breaky and even include this paste with your ordinary omelet.
Moreover, have a party bang with red curry paste-infused deviled eggs and see how it could effortlessly upgrade your celebration goodies!
04- With Meat, Fish, And Seafood Dishes
Non-veg lovers will never resist the taste of this paste when it is blended with endless options of meat, fish, or seafood dishes. You can simply spice up anything- shrimp, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, crabs, fish, salmon, etc.
Thai Red Chicken Curry, Thai Red Prawn Curry, and Thai Red Fish curry are some of the signature dishes that you will obviously get to taste at any Thai restaurant.
It utterly complements any meat-based or seafood-based dish with coconut milk since red curry paste and coconut milk are such a match made in heaven.
05- With Vegetables
This paste can make the best vegetable dishes ever! If you are a person who is tracking a vegan diet, you have boundless picks with a vegan version of the Thai red curry paste.
Eggplant, squash, mushrooms, and mixed vegetables can be either sauteed, stir-fried, or made into a curry with this. Apart from those vegetables, paneer and tofu are also delicious vegan/ vegetarian options if you choose a vegan Thai red curry paste made without shrimp paste.
06- As A Flavor Enhancer In Marinades
“Gai Golae” is a delicious chicken dish marinated in a curry sauce made with red curry paste with coconut milk. This technique can be used with any other meat you wish to marinate.
Even prawns, fish, and tofu would be great when you use this paste as a part of their marinades. In fact, all-in-one flavors will give incredible results in seasoning the food you choose to grill, roast, fry, or bake.
07- In Dips, Sauces, And Dressings
If you are planning to make chicken satay or pork satay with peanut sauce for the family gathering in the upcoming weekend, try to mix some red curry paste with the sauce. We are sure your loved ones are going to love the treat and admire your cooking skills like never before!
Likewise, this paste can be incorporated in many sauces, dipping sauces, and salad dressings. “Salad Kaeg” is another such Thai salad dressing coming together with red curry paste.
It will also be perfect with cream-based dips like mayonnaise, cream cheese, sour cream, and greek yogurt. Moreover, pasta sauce also can have tasty upshots when this paste is added.
08- In Fusion Dishes
Are you a fan of fusion cooking? If so, this paste will be such a game-changer. This could give you unbelievable results, particularly when you combine Asian and Western, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines together.
We hope you all love lasagna. Try to make a lasagna sauce with red curry paste. In addition, you can use this delicacy in batters like in Japanese dishes such as “Okonomiyaki”.
The list goes on as you can include red curry paste in other Western recipes like Chicken Pot Pie, Mac and Cheese, etc.
Asian food is elementary to like because it hits your mouth very differently from European food. There may be two things to hit in European food – maybe sweet and salty, perhaps salty-savory, … but Asian kind of works around, plus you have that distinct flavor that’s usually working in Asian food.
Tom Colicchio
09- With Soups And Stews
Many traditional Thai soup and stew dishes come together with red curry paste. So, why not bring that to your table too?
Several noodle soup and meat stew recipes can have a flavorsome kick when this paste is mixed or used as the base flavoring. Especially, you will love the warmth and heartiness it gives in fall.
10- In Rice, Noodles, Pasta, And Spaghetti Dishes
You don’t have to go with bland rice, noodles, pasta, or spaghetti dishes anymore when you are empowered with a jar of Thai red curry paste at home!
Plus, it will give a taste wriggle even with the basic recipes like Nasi Goreng, Kao Mok Ghai, Pad Mee Korat, etc.
Fried rice dishes are staples in Asian cuisine and if you wish to try any rice recipe, allow a blob from this paste to blend in with the vegetables and meat, eggs, seafood, or whatever you use in your rice dish.
It will also be great with stir-fried noodles and saucy pasta or spaghetti dishes.
11- In Sandwich Spreads
Sandwiches would always be top on our list of go-to foods. So, red curry paste can be a delectable addition to your regular sandwich spread. In fact, this will be your best bet if you crave some extra zing and color!
For example, add a scoop from this paste to the typical tuna and mayo spread.
In addition, you can also have an incredibly delicious sandwich by mixing chopped boiled eggs with red curry paste and combining them into a fine spread. All you have to do is give your inner master chef a chance!
Thai Red Curry Paste Uses Are Beyond What You Already Know!
You know that your food journal should have upgrades in order to cherish the spent days. In that case, Thai red curry paste will lead your path to experiment and experience many savvy and unexpected ways to use it with your regular meals.
Hence, our intention was to illuminate you with what we found and let you know that this paste can be used outside of ordinary red curries. So, what are you going to try with this delicacy next time? Let us know with a comment below!
