Skip to main content

Thai Green Curry Paste

5.0

(1)

Photo of green curry paste in a bowl.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell

Homemade green curry paste has more vivid flavor and aromatic intensity than store-bought, not to mention the freedom to control the spice level. Sopon Kosalanan of restaurant Khao King in, Queens says, “If you get it from a can, I don’t feel like it’s green curry. It doesn’t have the same aromas.” This is the recipe he makes in big batches for his restaurant every day.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    20 minutes

  • Yield

    About 1 cup

Ingredients

12 small green Thai chiles, stems removed
2 lemongrass stalks, bottom third only, tough outer layers removed, smashed with the back of a knife, thinly sliced
2 shallots, coarsely chopped
8 small or 6 large garlic cloves
1 (4") piece galangal, peeled, thinly sliced
Zest of 1 makrut (Thai) lime (optional)
1 cup Thai basil leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Blend chiles, lemongrass, shallots, garlic, galangal, makrut lime zest, basil, fingerroot (if using), shrimp paste, and ½ cup water in a blender on high speed, scraping down sides and adding more water if needed, until paste is the consistency of a thick salsa.

    Step 2

    DO AHEAD: Curry paste can be made 5 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill, or freeze up to 2 months.

Read More
Low effort, big flavor, and ready in under an hour.
Among the top tier of sauces is Indonesian satay sauce, because it is the embodiment of joy and life. In fact, this sauce is also trustworthy and highly respectful of whatever it comes into contact with—perhaps it is, in fact, the perfect friend?
Chicken breasts reach their full potential in this spicy, saucy stir-fry with blistered green beans.
A flexible San Francisco favorite, finished with bright, garlicky gremolata toasts for soaking up the saucy broth.
This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.
On a hot day, nothing satisfies quite like cold noodles in iced broth.
A spicy-funky upgrade for lettuce cups, sandwiches, and more.
Bathe greens and chickpeas in a garlicky, tomato-enhanced broth. Stretch a block of Halloumi by grating and toasting it into a topping for the soup.