Skip to main content
Epicurious
Recipes & Menus

Thai Green Curry Paste

5.0

(1)

Photo of green curry paste in a bowl.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell

Homemade green curry paste has more vivid flavor and aromatic intensity than store-bought, not to mention the freedom to control the spice level. Sopon Kosalanan of restaurant Khao King in, Queens says, “If you get it from a can, I don’t feel like it’s green curry. It doesn’t have the same aromas.” This is the recipe he makes in big batches for his restaurant every day.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    20 minutes

  • Yield

    About 1 cup

Ingredients

12 small green Thai chiles, stems removed
2 lemongrass stalks, bottom third only, tough outer layers removed, smashed with the back of a knife, thinly sliced
2 shallots, coarsely chopped
8 small or 6 large garlic cloves
1 (4") piece galangal, peeled, thinly sliced
Zest of 1 makrut (Thai) lime (optional)
1 cup Thai basil leaves
1 Tbsp. chopped fingerroot (kra chai) in brine (optional)
2½ tsp. shrimp paste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Blend chiles, lemongrass, shallots, garlic, galangal, makrut lime zest, basil, fingerroot (if using), shrimp paste, and ½ cup water in a blender on high speed, scraping down sides and adding more water if needed, until paste is the consistency of a thick salsa.

    Step 2

    DO AHEAD: Curry paste can be made 5 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill, or freeze up to 2 months.

TagsCurryThaiSoutheast AsianAsianThai ChileChileVegetableLemongrassHerbs & SpicesGarlicRoot VegetableShallotGalangalThai BasilBasilQuickEasyMake AheadBlenderEpicurious

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Mango Chicken Summer Rolls
Rotisserie chicken makes quick work of these no-cook rolls with a spicy peanut sauce.
The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App in July
Like hot honey chicken with peaches and a dirty martini spritz.
Paella de Pollo con Verduras
A crowd-friendly, crisp-edged chicken and vegetable rice from chef José Andrés.
Morning Buns
Tender, buttery breakfast pastries with crisp caramelized edges, a fragrant cinnamon-orange filling, and a crackly sugar topping.
José Andrés Recipes Worth Bookmarking
Like carrot farro salad and chicken paella.
Plum Karpatka (Polish Cream Puff Cake)
With dramatic choux layers and fruit-rippled cream, it’s the drag queen of Polish desserts.
Thai-Style Fish Curry
Low effort, big flavor, and ready in under an hour.
Eggplant Roasted in Satay Sauce
Among the top tier of sauces is Indonesian satay sauce, because it is the embodiment of joy and life. In fact, this sauce is also trustworthy and highly respectful of whatever it comes into contact with—perhaps it is, in fact, the perfect friend?