Yellow Curry Thai - Easy Weeknight Recipe - Chocolate Covered Katie (2024)

Healthy Meal Ideas

by Chocolate Covered Katie

5 from 12 votes

A healthy and filling vegetarian Thai yellow curry recipe, packed with wholesomeness and flavor.

Yellow Curry Thai - Easy Weeknight Recipe - Chocolate Covered Katie (2)

The Best Thai Yellow Curry

Lately, I’ve been craving so much Thai food.

I’m lucky to have multiple good Thai restaurants near me, and I’ve been eating my fill of red and yellow curry, panang, massaman, pad khing, and so many other dishes these past few months.

It’s inspired me to begin creating my own versions of the Thai classics – after all, sometimes you don’t want to have to go out to a restaurant in order to satisfy your cravings for takeout. And this easy Thai yellow curry recipe can be made in your pajamas if you wish!

While I do have another Thai curry recipe on here—for —this time I wanted to create a recipe you can make without jarred curry paste and one with options to make it both soy and coconut-free so that everyone can enjoy it.

This is a mild curry dish, making it great for kids and those who aren’t big on spicy foods. However, you can easily make it a spicier curry if you’d prefer by simply adding a pinch of cayenne or a handful of diced chilies to the curry when you add the other vegetables. Adding extra fresh ginger also ups the spiciness. I kind of really love fresh ginger.

Like many Thai dishes, this homemade curry is versatile and can be modified to suit different dietary requirements. For example, I chose to add tofu this time but another protein source could easily be substituted. Or you can even leave the protein out altogether and simply add more vegetables to the curry instead. Chopped pineapple would also be a nice addition to the recipe.

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Yellow Curry Thai Recipe

A healthy and filling vegetarian Thai yellow curry recipe that's, packed with flavor.

Yellow Curry Thai - Easy Weeknight Recipe - Chocolate Covered Katie (6)

Leave a Review

Print Recipe

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Yield 5 cups

5 from 12 votes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 a large onion, diced or thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp oil or spray
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 tsp curry powder
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger, or 1 tsp powdered
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup protein of choice, such as cubed tofu or chickpeas
  • 1 1/2 cup small broccoli florets
  • 1/2 bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • optional 1/2 cup baby corn
  • 13.5 oz coconut cream or milk, or cashew cream for coconut-free
  • 1 tbsp sweetener of choice
  • 1 tsp lime juice
  • optional garnishes, such as fresh basil, raw bell pepper, sliced cashews, etc.

Instructions

  • In a large pot or pan, sauté the onion in oil or spray over medium heat—stirring only occasionally—until it begins to brown. Stir in the next four ingredients, then stir in the protein, broccoli, bell pepper, corn, coconut milk, and sweetener. (I’ve only tried the recipe with full-fat canned coconut milk or cream, so sub lite or cartoned coconut/nondairy milk at your own risk.) Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, remove the lid and check for doneness. If broccoli is not yet soft, continue to cook until desired broccoli softness is reached. Remove from heat, stir in lime, and garnish as desired. Leftover sauce will thicken considerably in the fridge because coconut milk thickens when chilled, so just reheat and then add a little extra milk if needed to thin it out again.

    Instant Pot Version: In saute mode, cook the onions and oil about a minute, or until onion starts to brown.Stir in the next four ingredients, then stir in the protein, broccoli, bell pepper, corn, coconut milk, and sweetener. Close and seal, then cook on manual for 3 minutes. Do a natural pressure release. Stir in lime, and garnish. Thanks to reader Hannah for creating this version and leaving a comment to let us know how to make the recipe in an instant pot!

    View Nutrition Facts

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You are here: Home / Healthy Meal Ideas / Yellow Curry Thai – Easy Weeknight Recipe

Published on July 27, 2017

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beans gluten-free healthy recipes high protein soy-free sugar-free tofu

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Reader Interactions

21 Comments

Leave a comment or reviewLeave a rating

  1. Kat Cupcake says

    This sounds delicious! I love curry

    Reply

  2. Kim H says

    Your other Thai curry recipe is one of our family staples. I love red curry paste, but will definitely try this one as well for something a little different.

    Reply

  3. Vanessa Osborne says

    Made this last night and it was so delicious!

    Reply

  4. Cassie Autumn Tran says

    Yellow curry is delicious, even though green curry is my number one favorite! Personally, I adore thick curries, so I wouldn’t mind it if the sauce was creamier!

    Reply

  5. Manuka Honey Singapore says

    Love india curry, With chicken and roti prata with it, it taste really good!

    Reply

  6. Sara says

    This was delicious! So quick and easy to make. I added just a little almond milk to thin it out and served with a side of rice. The whole family loved it. This dish is definitely going on our weekly menu, especially in the fall.

    Reply

  7. Samantha says

    This was amazing and so easy!

    Reply

  8. Mary says

    What kind of curry powder are you using?

    Reply

  9. Sandy says

    I made this on Sunday for dinner on Monday. My husband doesn’t like curry, so I used 3/4 of a teaspoon. He loved it, and so did I. He told me next time to use MORE curry. WOW, from someone who has always said “I don’t like curry”. Thank you Katie, for all of your wonderful recipes!

    Reply

  10. Paule says

    Made this recipe in my Instant Pot tonight an it is deliciously addictive!
    Will definitely make it again 🙂
    Thank You !

    Reply

  11. Dr Martin Huang says

    Nice. I will add in a few slices of chilli padi in to up the spice game.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  12. Tasha says

    I modified recipe, because of our supermarkets, and surprisingly I didn’t ruined it! Sooo tasty!
    I put there white beans, as protein, cauliflower instead of broccoli, cartoned coconut cream and water, add brown rice noodles, also instead of baby corn I used fresh corn. It’s sooo goood! Thank you so much!

    Reply

  13. Melanie Scheetz says

    This was the most amazing recipe!! First, Katie, I tried twice to give you 5 stars…but it registered .5 stars. I sincerely hope you can fix that (my deepest apologies).

    I have been a Plant Paradox vegan for 6 months (lost 30 lbs…yay!), but struggle with delicious recipes. I am so glad that I found yours…finally…a wonderful and easy dish! I left out the protein, bell pepper, and corn, but doubled the onion and broccoli. Also, I added blanched, toasted almond slivers from Trader Joe’s, which added a bit of additional sweetness. I also added 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper.

    By the way, I had to fight off my husband for a bowl of this curry, as I want to take the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I had to promise him that I’ll make extra for him next time.

    Reply

    • Chocolate Covered Katie says

      Aw thank you so much for making it! 🙂

      Reply

  14. Heather says

    What kind of sweetener do you recommend?

    Reply

    • Jason Sanford says

      Maple syrup or sugar both work!

      Reply

  15. CJ Brocker says

    I love your site, your book and your recipes; this one is very good! Have you considered adding the name of your recipe and/or the name of your site to all your recipe photos (your photos that have this are so easy to find amongst my saved recipes in Pinterest). Thank you for sharing your recipes.

    Reply

    • Jason Sanford says

      Hi! Thank you so much for making the recipe :). Katie usually puts watermarks on the photos, at least with the most recent posts. Is that what you mean?
      Jason (media relations)

      Reply

  16. Laramee says

    This post sound very nice.

    Reply

  17. Keith Sabin says

    I’m late to this party, but glad I got here! I swapped peapods for the broccoli, and stirred in aji amarillo for mellow heat (rather than the easy but sharper choice of gochujang), and it’s MOUTHWATERING good. Plan to do the instant-pot version next time…

    Reply

Leave A Reply

Yellow Curry Thai - Easy Weeknight Recipe - Chocolate Covered Katie (2024)

FAQs

Why is Thai yellow curry so good? ›

Because Thai yellow curry contains both coconut cream and coconut milk, it's much milder, richer, and creamier than other curries. It's usually made with chicken or beef, carrots, onions, and potatoes, but other starchy vegetables can be added or substituted as you prefer (some add red and green peppers or both!).

How to thicken a Thai curry? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

What vegetables go in curry? ›

The curry base is made with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, red chilli powder and garam masala. I prefer to go with potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, cauliflower, corn and bell peppers. Though you can use other veggies like baby corn, sweet potato and broccoli, the curry will have different flavors.

Can you add milk to a curry? ›

Coconut milk is a vegan option for all curries. You can also try adding a splash of milk, if that's all you have to hand. Milk contains a protein called casein which actually breaks down capsaicin and makes it less spicy – both full-fat and skimmed do the trick nicely.

Which Thai curry tastes the best? ›

5 Mouth Watering Thai Curries That'll Leave You Wanting More
  • Green Curry. This Green Curry is one of the best Thai curries if you like hot, spicy food. ...
  • Red Curry. Kaeng Phet is as spicy as they come, bursting with the flavor of both fresh and dried red chillis. ...
  • Yellow Curry. ...
  • Panang Curry. ...
  • Massaman Curry.
Mar 9, 2020

How do Thai restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

Often, Thai curries are made using coconut milk as the main liquid, which results in a creamy consistency. You can use as much or as little coconut milk as you wish based on your preference for texture, spice, and flavor.

Does coconut milk thicken curry? ›

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Is canned coconut milk the same as coconut cream? ›

Coconut cream is the same thing as coconut milk—coconut meat blended with water—but it contains less water. While coconut milk is thin like cow's milk, coconut cream is thick like whipped cream. You can find this fat-rich cream floating on the top of any canned coconut milk, or you can buy it in a dedicated can.

Do you thicken curry with lid on or off? ›

To thicken a soup, stew, or sauce, leaving the lid uncovered is ideal. "It must be off, or semi-covered, if you are slowing down the reduction process," says Stephen Chavez, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.

What are the best potatoes for curry? ›

Waxy potatoes like Yukon gold, white potatoes and russet potatoes are best for curry. However any other kind of potatoes are okay if you cook them just until fork tender so they retain their shape. Avoid using new potatoes.

Do tomatoes belong in curry? ›

About Tomato Curry

It can be a great dish when you have too many tomatoes in your kitchen or you just don't have any other veggies to cook. This Tomato Curry has its roots from the Andhra Cuisine and in the past, a traditional key ingredient known as Telagapindi was used.

What can you eat with curry instead of rice? ›

Our favourite side dishes for curry
  • Flatbreads. If you love to mop up curry sauce with a pillowy naan, we have recipes that'll you'll want to try. ...
  • Bhajis and pakoras. ...
  • Indian street food snacks. ...
  • Rice. ...
  • Dhal. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Samosas.

Does curry need coconut milk or cream? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

What milk is best for curry? ›

  • People use a variety of liquids to make curries, and both regular milk and coconut milk are common choices, depending on the type of curry being prepared and personal preferences.
  • Regular Milk: Regular milk, especially in the form of cream or yogurt, is often used in curries from regions like North India.
Aug 8, 2023

What does adding coconut milk do to a curry? ›

If you're a fan of Thai curries or Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala, canned coconut milk likely has a permanent spot on your grocery list. A few splashes add a creamy richness and nutty, slightly sweet flavor to everything from soups to desserts.

Why is Thai curry so tasty? ›

An interesting characteristic of Thai curries is that they are made of fresh ingredients only. Contrary to the Indian cooking, Thai restaurant prefers to use fresh herbs and spices to make the curry dishes, including fresh chillies and roots.

Is Thai yellow curry healthy for you? ›

Yellow curry with plenty of vegetables is likely to be high in vitamin A and vitamin C. Dietary cholesterol raises your cholesterol levels, and chicken curry has 33 mg of cholesterol, or 10 percent of the daily value. Only animal-derived foods contain cholesterol, and vegetarian yellow Thai curry is cholesterol-free.

What is different about yellow Thai curry? ›

In general, Thai yellow curry is the mildest, Thai red curry is medium-hot and Thai green curry is spicy, although it can sometimes vary depending on what region of Thailand you are in. Read on for my complete guide to Thai curries… and all my tips and tricks on how to dial down the heat.

What makes Thai curry special? ›

Curries in Thailand mainly differ from the curries in India in their use of ingredients such as herbs and aromatic leaves over a mix of spices.

References

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