Easy Thai Red Curry Paste (Prik Gaeng Ped Recipe)

User Reviews

5.0

15 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Additional Time

    30 mins

  • Total Time

    40 mins

  • Servings

    12

  • Calories

    15 kcal

  • Course

    Condiments

  • Cuisine

    Thai

Easy Thai Red Curry Paste (Prik Gaeng Ped Recipe)

Red Thai curry paste is an essential ingredient in authentic Thai red curry. And it's easy to make your own curry paste for flavourful homemade curries that taste like they're from the best Thai restaurants!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 30 dried chiles de arbol *
  • 20 white peppercorns , or black
  • 1 tablespoon finely diced galangal * , or ginger
  • 2 stalks lemongrass , tough outer leaves and base removed, then finely sliced
  • ¼ cup finely diced shallot , about 1 small shallot
  • 6 cloves garlic , peeled
  • 1 tablespoon sliced cilantro roots , or stems
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated makrut lime zest *
  • 2 teaspoons shrimp paste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
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Instructions

  1. Destem the chillies, break them in two, and shake out as many seeds and membranes as possible – this reduces the spiciness and makes it easier to blend. Place the chillies in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 30 minutes.
  2. Add the peppercorns to a small food processor or spice grinder and pulse until coarsely ground.
  3. Add the diced galangal and sliced lemongrass. Blitz until you have a fibrous yet homogeneous blend, scraping down the sides as needed.
  4. Add the diced shallot, garlic, and cilantro root (or stem). Blitz until you have a wet, mostly smooth, paste. Stop to scrape down the sides and mix as needed.
  5. Drain the chillies and add them to the grinder – in batches if needed. Blitz until you have a smooth, bright red paste.
  6. Add the remaining ingredients and blend into a smooth, thick red paste.
  7. Refrigerate the curry paste in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze in portions for up to 3 months.

Notes

  •  
  • I adapted the authentic Thai red curry paste recipe from Rosa's Thai Cafe by Saiphin Moore.
  • The type of dried chilli determines the spiciness of your curry paste. The traditional choice is dried Thai red spur chillies – but they're not readily available. Instead, I use deseeded chile de arbol. The generic dried red chillies from Asian grocery stores also work well. Or, opt for dried guajillo for a milder chilli paste. ​
  • If you can't find fresh or brine-pickled galangal, use fresh ginger instead.
  • limes (also called kaffir limes) are green wrinkly limes used in Thai cuisine. A single lime is typically enough for 2 teaspoons (10 grams) of kaffir lime zest.
  • The authentic Thai curry paste method requires a pestle and mortar but requires lots of arm strength and patience. Instead, I use the small food processor/spice grinder attached to my Bamix immersion blender and add the ingredients in batches. You can use a spice grinder, small food processor or high-speed blender. But if you use a standard-sized food processor, you'll need to double the recipe.
  • To make Thai red curry, stir-fry your authentic red curry paste in oil, then add coconut milk, fish sauce, and palm sugar. Cook your veggies or meat in the fragrant curry sauce. See my Thai fish curry recipe for step-by-step instructions.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 12.5g Calories 15kcal (1%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 0.1g (0%) Saturated Fat 0.02g (0%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g Monounsaturated Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 10mg (3%) Sodium 225mg (9%) Potassium 55mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 444IU (9%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 9mg (1%) Iron 0.3mg (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 15 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 12.5g
Calories 15kcal 1%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 0.1g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.02g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.01g 0%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Sodium 225mg 9%
Potassium 55mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 444IU 9%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 0.3mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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