Description
This Homemade Thai Green Curry Paste is a vibrant and aromatic base for authentic Thai green curry dishes, made from fresh herbs, spices, and chilis blended into a smooth, flavorful paste. Perfect for adding a spicy and fragrant kick to your cooking, this paste is easy to make and can be stored for later use.
Ingredients
Scale
Chilies and Aromatics
- 4 green cayenne pepper chilis, deseeded and chopped
- 6 Thai green chilis, chopped
- 2 red shallots, chopped
- 2 lemongrass stems, trimmed and finely chopped (about 2.5 – 3 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp galangal, grated
- 5 cloves garlic, chopped
Seasonings
- 2.5 tsp dried shrimp paste (Belacan)
- 2 tsp lime zest, grated
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp chopped coriander/cilantro root and stem
- 1/4 cup coriander/cilantro leaves, loosely packed
- 2 – 3 tbsp water, as needed
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Place all the ingredients except the water into a powerful blender or food processor. Using equipment such as a Vitamix is ideal to achieve a smooth texture.
- Blend to Paste: Blend everything into a fine paste, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add water little by little to assist with blending, but note that it may not be needed as the herbs and chilis already contain moisture.
- Use the Paste: Immediately use the green curry paste in your favorite Thai green curry recipes to impart authenticity and depth of flavor.
- Storage: If not using right away, refrigerate the curry paste for up to 2 days or freeze it for up to 1 month to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Deseeding the green cayenne chilis helps to control the heat level of the paste.
- Use fresh lemongrass trimmed and finely chopped for optimal flavor extraction.
- Galangal provides a distinctive aromatic flavor different from ginger; fresh is best.
- Dried shrimp paste (belacan) adds umami and depth; can adjust quantity to taste.
- Using coriander stems and roots intensifies the herbal profile of the paste.
- Adjust the number of green chilis depending on your preferred spice level.
- Paste can be frozen in ice cube trays for easy portioning.
