Thai Peanut Curry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to Thai curry? ›

The secret to making amazing Thai curries is to use plenty of aromatics, like onion, ginger and garlic. Choose full-fat coconut milk for its richness (you won't regret it!). Stirring in just a little bit of rice vinegar and sugar adds tons of complexity.

If the sauce too thick for your purposes, simply thin it out with some additional water or coconut milk or lime juice.

Cornflour

Ideal for Chinese sauces or Thai curries but can also be used for Indian curries. Add one tablespoon of cornflour to two or three tablespoons of cold water and stir. Pour the mixture into the sauce and allow to simmer until the sauce begins to thicken. Which doesn't take very long.

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.

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

A curry can be sweetened by adding honey, syrup, or sugar. These ingredients add flavour and balance to a sour or bitter curry. Add around one tablespoon of either ingredient to your curry while cooking and taste. Continue to slowly add syrup, honey, or sugar to the dish until a sweet flavour is achieved.

For example, lemongrass, Galangal and Shrimp paste are the common ingredients found in Thai curries. They enhance the flavour of the curry dishes, and yet, they are rarely used in other cuisines.

As well as heat, you need something salty – shrimp paste, or fish sauce – and some aromatics, like lemongrass and galangal, as well as the shallots and garlic which give the curry pungency and depth.

Honey, brown sugar, or some other sweet ingredient — Balances the strong taste of the soy sauce and vinegar.

Does Thai peanut sauce go bad? ›

An unopened, commercially-produced jar of peanut sauce can last about 12 to 18 months beyond its printed expiration date. Once opened, peanut sauce should ideally be consumed within 2 weeks if stored in the fridge. If it has been frozen, peanut sauce can last up to 6 months.

If your sauce has become too thin, add more nut butter.

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.

Coconut milk or cream:

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.

A runny curry means you haven't cooked it long enough and/or you have used coconut milk with a low percentage of solids. Authentic curries never contain any type of starch (flour). So, buy coconut milk (or cream) with the highest percentage of solids that you can find. Next, use more paste.

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

Coriander / cilantro, lime and garlic

Traditional Thai Curry Pastes are mostly made with coriander/cilantro roots. The roots have intense coriander flavour that's sort of earthy. Because the roots are so highly prized in Thai cooking, coriander is sold with long roots in Thai grocery stores.