If you’re new to Thai curry, I can help! I’ve cooked all 5 coconut milk-based types as found in Thai restaurants in the USA. If you’re wondering what kind to make or if you have all the ingredients, look no further. I don’t live near an Asian store, but I find everything I need at Walmart except for the paste and tamarind, which I buy on Amazon.
Typical Thai Curry Ingredients
- sugar = brown sugar, a great sub for palm sugar.
- lime = lime juice, since lime leaves are expensive and hard to find.
- fish sauce – find in the Asian section at the grocery store.
- lemongrass – find ground in a tube in the produce section (keep frozen) or fresh at an Asian store.
- tamarind – find in the Asian or Mexican section of the grocery store. I bought mine online since my store didn’t carry it.
- bamboo shoots – small can, find in the Asian section of the grocery store.
- curry paste – Mae Ploy brand, find at an Asian store or online.

Type
|
Flavor
| Meat (My Favorite) | Typical Veggies and Nuts | Other Ingredients |
red
| hot, savory | beef | bamboo shoots, bell peppers | sugar, lime, fish sauce, lemongrass |
massaman | medium hot, sweet | beef | onion, peanuts, potatoes | sugar, lime, fish sauce, lemongrass, tamarind |
panang | medium hot, sweet | beef | bell pepper,peanuts | sugar, lime, fish sauce, lemongrass |
green
| hot, slightly sweet | chicken | eggplant, bell pepper | sugar, lime, fish sauce, lemongrass |
yellow
| mild, sweet | chicken | onion, potatoes, carrots | sugar, lime, fish sauce |
Armed with this knowledge, you can cook any Thai curry with ease!
Here are my recipes.
Thai Green Curry With Chicken
Thai green curry is one of my absolute favorites. It’s on the spicy side, but that’s part of what makes it so appealing to me.
Get the recipe!

Thai Massaman Curry With Beef
Thai massaman curry is the perfect blend of spices with medium heat and both sweet and savory flavors.
Get the recipe!

Thai Panang Curry With Beef
Thai Panang (or Penang) curry has a sweeter, more peanutty taste than the other curries, and it is absolutely delicious.
Get the recipe!

Thai Red Curry With Beef
Though you can use any meat for Thai red curry, I think beef tastes the best with the strong, spicy flavor of the curry paste.
Get the recipe!

Thai Yellow Curry With Chicken
If you haven’t tried curry because of the heat, I recommend starting with this one.
Get the recipe!
