Amazon Associates PartnerTrusted
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page. This helps support our site at no extra cost to you. Clicking on ingredient or equipment links will take you to amazon.com where you can purchase these items.
Thai Curry Pastes (Red, Yellow, Green, Panang, Massaman)
Homemade Thai curry pastes for the five most popular Thai curries—Red, Yellow, Green, Panang, and Massaman. This recipe walks you through creating a versatile aromatic base using a pestle and mortar, then customizing each paste with the right chilies and spices. The pastes can be stored in the fridge or freezer for weeks and used in a variety of dishes.
Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist
Cost Breakdown
Critical Success Points
- • Toasting white peppercorns
- • Pounding ingredients in the correct dry‑to‑wet order
- • Removing seeds from chilies to control heat
- • Using fresh galangal (not ginger)
- • Adding salt in stages for friction
- • Taste testing after each spice addition
- • Storing pastes properly to maintain flavor
Safety Warnings
- • Handle hot pan when toasting spices to avoid burns
- • Wear gloves when handling fresh chilies to prevent eye irritation
- • Shrimp paste is fermented; keep refrigerated after opening
☕ 100% Free & Ad-Free Forever! Made by ADHD friends who got lost in recipe videos
We built this because we kept forgetting recipe steps. Help us keep it ad-free & support our caffeine addiction!
You Might Also Like
Similar recipes converted from YouTube cooking videos
Som Tam (Thai Green Papaya Salad)
A vibrant, crunchy, and spicy Thai salad made with shredded green papaya, carrots, blanched French beans, cherry tomatoes, and a bold dressing of chilies, garlic, lime, and peanuts. This refreshing salad is a staple in Thai cuisine and perfect for hot weather.
Stir-fried Rice Noodles with Soy Sauce and Beef (Thai style)
Wide rice noodles stir-fried with beef, Chinese broccoli, light and dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, egg and garlic. A simple, quick, and flavorful Thai street‑food dish, comparable to pad thai but with a deeper umami touch.
Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
A fragrant Thai soup flavored with coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, featuring tender chicken, oyster mushrooms and a hint of fresh chili. Simple, quick and comforting, perfect for a light dinner or a flavorful lunch.
Soupe de poulet au curry rouge et nouilles de riz
Une soupe thaïe réconfortante à base de pâte de curry rouge, lait de coco, poulet et nouilles de riz, parfumée de citronnelle, galanga, feuilles de kaffir et coriandre. Simple, rapide et pleine de saveurs épicées.
Brochettes de gambas façon Thai
Des brochettes de gambas marinées dans une sauce soja, citron, gingembre et coriandre, grillées rapidement à la poêle et servies avec un filet d'huile de noix, graines de sésame grillées et coriandre fraîche. Idéales pour un repas d'été léger, accompagnées de riz ou de légumes sautés.
Yellow Curry Paste (Gaeng Garee)
Homemade Thai yellow curry paste made from dried chilies, toasted Indian spices, fresh lemongrass, galangal, ginger, turmeric, garlic, shallots, shrimp paste and salt. This paste is the base for a classic yellow chicken curry with potatoes and onions, but can be used for any Thai yellow curry dish.