Coconut Curry for Everyone

When I need to use up proteins or vegetables, one of my favorite go-to’s is a Thai-inspired coconut curry. You can purchase Thai curry pastes that are vegan, so you can to make this a vegetarian or vegan meal. I use Mae Ploy, which is not vegan.

Here are the components for the sauce:

• 2-3 tbsp. Red or green curry paste
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup chicken or veggie broth (optional)
• 1-2 tbsp. fish sauce (optional)
• 1-2 tbsp. brown sugar (optional)

For the main components:

• Basically any protein you have, cut into bite-size pieces or strips. I’ve used everything from fish to (only) vegetables to steak.
• Lots and lots of veggies, cut into bite-size pieces or strips. Nearly anything you have on hand. I’ve used green beans, carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, peas of any variety, sweet potatoes…really just clean out your produce drawer.

Optional aromatics for the sauce:

• Any variety of onion
• Shallots
• Ginger
• Lemongrass
• Lemon or Lime zest
• Any finely chopped chili pepper
• Garlic

Finish with:

• Fresh-squeezed lime juice (optional)
• A splash of fish sauce (optional)
• Some Sriracha or Sambal Oelek (optional, and, remember, this curry will have a little kick already)
• Fresh mint, basil or cilantro. If you have Thai basil, use that.
• Roasted peanuts

Serve over

• Rice
• Noodles

Let’s make it:

• Heat some neutral oil in large sauté pan or wok.
• Saute your optional aromatics and curry paste in the oil. When the paste has toasted a little, add any proteins you’re using. Season with salt and pepper. (If you’re doing things like shrimp or fish, do this at the very end. Simmer in the sauce for, like, 5 minutes? Just enough to cook through.)
• Next, add your veggies, season them very lightly, and cook until they start to get tender.
• Add the coconut milk and any optional additions.
• Let simmer for a few minutes–anywhere from 5-15 minutes, depending on how tender you like your veggies. Let the flavors meld and the sauce thicken just a bit.
• Stir in or top off with any optional finishing touches.
• Serve over your desired starch.