Thai red curry is one of my favourite go to’s when I’m eating out but the full fat coconut milk used in Thai restaurants often makes the dish high in calories and for me, a bit too rich. I often make a quick Thai curry at home using shop bought curry paste (which I’m still a big fan of) and light coconut milk but more recently I decided to give making my own paste a go. The difference was remarkable. The flavours of the curry were so much more fresh and vibrant and it really didn’t take much effort to simply whack all the ingredients in a blender. This is my go to now so when I’m making this dish I usually double or triple the paste ingredients below so I can have enough left to freeze for another day. The paste will keep for 3 days in the fridge in an air tight container or for up to 3 months in the freezer.
If you struggle to get a hold of any of the ingredients (like me!!) Amazon has lots of the ingredients that you need, and most are on prime delivery. I’ll pop them in my shop here if you want to take a look. I bought them and have used them time and time again so they are worth the extra effort.
I serve my Thai curry with 60g (dried) fluffy jasmine rice per person (for an extra 6 points per portion).
WW POINTS AND NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
For the Curry – serves 4 = 5 points (+1 for non starchy veg) – add points for the rice separately
Per serving – 298 calories, Fat 10.7g, Carbs 15.1g, Protein 42.3g
INGREDIENTS
For the paste
- 12 dried red kashmiri chillies, deseeded and chopped into rough 1cm chunks
- 1 tbsp each lemongrass paste and galangal paste
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
- ½ tbsp shrimp paste
- 1 tsp each ground coriander, ground cumin, paprika and white pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh coriander, leaves and stalks
- 1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped
- Zest of 1 lime
- 100-150ml reserved chilli soaking water
- ½ sp each sugar and salt
For the curry
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 250ml chicken stock (made up with 1 stock cube)
- 400ml can of light coconut milk
- 6 kaffir lime leaves
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 500g chicken breast, raw, cut into inch sized chunks
- Pack of green beans (170g), trimmed and halved
- ½ bunch of basil leaves (Thai basil if you can get it)
- Juice of 1 lime, quartered
To garnish
- Fresh red chilli, sliced (and deseeded if you don’t like it too hot
- Handful of fresh coriander, roughly chopped
- Jasmine rice
METHOD
- Begin by making the paste. Put the chillies into a large bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak. After 15 minutes, remove the chillies from the bowl and keep the soaking water to one side.
- Take a blender and add the chillies along with all of the other paste ingredients. Blend for 10-60 seconds, adding more of the reserved water to get the right paste consistency if needed.
- Take a large pan, heat 1 tsp vegetable oil and then add the curry paste. Fry for 2 minutes until the you can smell the aromas starting to release.
- Add the stock, coconut milk, lime leaves, sugar and fish sauce. Stir to combine and then add the raw chicken.
- Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat. Simmer with the lid off for 15-20 minutes until the sauce has started to reduce and thicken up and the chicken is cooked through.
- Taste and add a little fish sauce or sugar to taste.
- Finally add the green beans and simmer for another 3 minutes until they have started to soften.
- Add the basil and then get ready to plate up.
- Serve the curry with some fluffy jasmine rice and garnish with a little fresh chilli, coriander and a slice of lime.
- Enjoy!
Thai Red Curry
WW POINTS AND NUTRITIONAL INFORMATIONFor the Curry – serves 4 = 5 points per serving (+1 for non starchy veg) - add extra points for the rice Per serving – 298 calories, Fat 10.7g, Carbs 15.1g, Protein 42.3gServings 4Ingredients
- For the paste
- 12 dried red kashmiri chillies deseeded and chopped into rough 1cm chunks
- 1 tbsp each lemongrass paste and galangal paste
- 8 garlic cloves peeled and roughly chopped
- ½ tbsp shrimp paste
- 1 tsp each ground coriander ground cumin, paprika and white pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves and stalks
- 1 shallot peeled and roughly chopped
- Zest of 1 lime
- 100-150 ml reserved chilli soaking water
- ½ sp each sugar and salt
- For the curry
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 250 ml chicken stock made up with 1 stock cube
- 400 ml can of light coconut milk
- 6 kaffir lime leaves
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 500 g chicken breast raw, cut into inch sized chunks
- Pack of green beans 170g, trimmed and halved
- ½ bunch of basil leaves Thai basil if you can get it
- Juice of 1 lime quartered
- To garnish
- Fresh red chilli sliced (and deseeded if you don’t like it too hot
- Handful of fresh coriander roughly chopped
- Jasmine rice
Instructions
- Begin by making the paste. Put the chillies into a large bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak. After 15 minutes, remove the chillies from the bowl and keep the soaking water to one side.
- Take a blender and add the chillies along with all of the other paste ingredients. Blend for 10-60 seconds, adding more of the reserved water to get the right paste consistency if needed.
- Take a large pan, heat 1 tsp vegetable oil and then add the curry paste. Fry for 2 minutes until the you can smell the aromas starting to release.
- Add the stock, coconut milk, lime leaves, sugar and fish sauce. Stir to combine and then add the raw chicken.
- Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat. Simmer with the lid off for 15-20 minutes until the sauce has started to reduce and thicken up and the chicken is cooked through.
- Taste and add a little fish sauce or sugar to taste.
- Finally add the green beans and simmer for another 3 minutes until they have started to soften.
- Add the basil and then get ready to plate up.
- Serve the curry with some fluffy jasmine rice and garnish with a little fresh chilli, coriander and a slice of lime.
- Enjoy!
I made this tonight for friends and family and it was totally delicious, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
If I can’t get galangal paste can I use ginger paste instead?