Whenever you need to make an authentic Thai dish, Thai flavorings can often baffle your mind- we understand. So, in this post, let’s break the confusion and settle all about Thai seasoning vs Thai curry powder.
Thai seasoning tends to be more flavorful, with a balance of spicy, hot, savory, salty, sweet, and citrusy notes. At the same time, Thai curry powder is a simple blend of a few spices with earthy, spicy, and slightly hot flavor elements. Above all, Thai seasoning is basically a “seasoning,” while Thai curry powder is a “spice mixture”.
We know you are curious to learn further- just scroll down as we have discussed this in detail!
Thai Seasoning Vs Thai Curry Powder –
| Thai Seasoning | Thai Curry powder | |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor profile | This is generally more intense and robust than Thai curry powder with earthy, warm, tangy, spicier, salty, sweet, and citrus flavor elements. The level of spiciness often depends on the ingredients used in each recipe. | This is less intense and flavorful than Thai seasoning. Sticks to a limited amount of ground spices with earthy, spicy, warm, and savory undertones. |
| Base flavor | Spicy and savory | Warm and spicy |
| Culinary ingredient category | Seasoning blend | Spice mixture/blend |
| Main ingredients | – Paprika – Ground chile pepper – Dry mustard – Black pepper – Galangal/ ground ginger – Ground cumin – Ground coriander – Garlic – Turmeric powder – Ground fenugreek – Dried basil – Lemongrass – Salt – Sugar – Dried lemon peel It might also include the following: – Star anise – Ground cinnamon – Red chili flakes – Onion powder – Sesame seeds – Ground cloves – White pepper – Nutmeg – Dried cilantro – Dried mint – Citric acid – Lemon oil/ natural lemon flavor – Rice flour/ rice concentrate – Spice extracts – Other flavor additives, preservatives, and colors | – Turmeric – White pepper – Red chili flakes/ powder – Coriander – Cumin – Ginger/ galangal – Cloves – Bay leaves Might occasionally feature: – Ground nutmeg – Chili powder – Garlic powder – Onion powder – Ground cinnamon – Dried parsley – Dried basil |
| Texture and appearance | A little coarser, is brownish and more vibrant in color than Thai curry powder. | Has a fine powdery texture, less vibrant, with a more yellowish tone than Thai seasoning. |
| Mode of usage in cooking | As an ingredient | As an ingredient |
| Usages in cooking | – Use as a dry rub or blend into a wet rub or a marinade for seafood and meat – It can be mixed into salads and salad dressings – To be tossed with snacks Sprinkle on roasted vegetables – To be used in stir-fries – Incorporate into curries and sauces | – Mainly used in curries – To flavor stews and soups – Added to a variety of Asian-style rice and noodle dishes – Spices up savory, creamy dishes – It can be added to flavor ground meat and fish recipes – As a base for marinades and wet rubs |
| Origin | Thai cuisine | Thai cuisine |
| Mode of production | Both commercially made and homemade options exist. | Both commercially made and homemade options exist. |
| Availability | It can be purchased from the international aisle of local supermarkets, Asian grocery stores, or from online vendors. | It can be purchased from the international aisle of local supermarkets, Asian grocery stores, or from online vendors. |
| Storage | It can be kept with the rest of the dry seasonings when stored properly in a well-fitting spice container. | It can be kept with the rest of the dry seasonings when stored properly in a well-fitting spice container. |
More Insights To The Difference Between Thai Seasoning And Thai Curry Powder
Both Thai seasoning blend and Thai curry powder are essential elements in Thai cooking. They are used in a variety of authentic Thai dishes. They might sound similar at once, but you need to understand that they are very different from one another in terms of ingredients, appearance, texture, and usage in cooking.
As you see, Thai seasoning includes a long list of ingredients, and each recipe largely varies depending on the elements used. It is also a more flavorful, vivid, and robust blend than Thai curry powder. On the contrary, Thai curry powder possesses a milder flavor profile than Thai seasoning with only a few ground spices.
And the recipe of Thai curry powder does not vary much depending on the production since it sticks to the same set of spices. We don’t typically savor salt, sugar, or a citrus agent in Thai curry powder, while Thai seasoning typically contains them all. And Thai seasoning often has more than one dried herb, which gives it a characteristic herbal note, but we don’t usually see that in traditional Thai curry powder.
Despite the fact that Thai seasoning and Thai curry powder won’t work for each other, you’ll still be able to find many other options to be used in place of them. We have all the information in these articles; click on the links below:
Can Thai Seasoning Be Used In Place of Thai Curry Powder And Vice Versa?
Although both of these ingredients originate from the same cuisine and share similar roots, we do not recommend them to be used as substitutes for each other. This is mainly because the base flavors of both of these blends are way different to begin with.
As we mentioned in the beginning, Thai seasoning is primarily a “seasoning” with salt, sugar, and citrus agents such as lemon peel or lemon oil. But Thai curry powder is a “spice blend” featuring just a few spices, mainly used to flavor curries and dishes that call for a “curry” note. Depending on these facts, it must be clear to you that Thai seasoning is not a good alternative to Thai curry powder and vice versa.
