Vegetarian Thai Red Curry Recipe
I have a couple curry recipes that I absolutely adore — Thai Chicken Coconut Curry and Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry. So much flavor in such easy and healthy food. When I had a recent curry craving, I married those two recipes and came up with this new chickpea kale curry that I couldn’t stop eating. I couldn’t pick a favorite from the three of them. It’s supremely easy, ready in 15 minutes, vegan, and gluten-free, but you’d never guess because it’s hearty, comforting, and keeps you satisfied for hours. Sweet Vidalia onions, carrots, chickpeas, and kale are simmered in a coconut-milk based sauce with Thai red curry paste, garlic, ginger, and corriander added to it.
What’s in the Chickpea Kale Curry?
For this vegetarian chickpea curry recipe, you’ll need:
Coconut oil Sweet Vidalia onion Garlic Ground ginger and coriander Chickpeas Coconut milk Carrots Thai red curry paste Fresh kale Lime juice Brown sugar Fresh cilantro
How to Make Chickpea Kale Curry
Sauté the aromatics (garlic, onions, spices) in coconut oil until softened. Add the chickpeas, carrots, coconut milk, and curry paste and simmer the mixture until it’s reduced and thickened somewhat. Stir in the kale and let it wilt prior to adding the remaining ingredients. I like spooning the curry over rice and garnishing it with fresh cilantro.
Can I Use Curry Powder Instead of Curry Paste?
Thai red curry paste adds a very different flavor profile than curry powder (Indian) has and I find Thai curry to be smoother and richer. If all you have is curry powder, go for it knowing that the flavor of Thai versus Indian curry products is vastly different and your dish won’t taste like mine.
Can This Recipe Be Made in Advance?
Definitely! Curries keep well for up to five days in the fridge, and they taste better over time as the flavors have time to mingle.
Tips for Making a Vegetarian Red Curry
As with all curry pastes and powders, they vary in intensity and everyone’s preferences for spice and heat vary, so adjust to taste. I used almost 4 rounded tablespoons of this curry paste and I wouldn’t call it spicy, but instead very flavorful. My 11-year-old wasn’t at all phased by it, but we enjoy spicy food. If you have extra veggies you want to incorporate including cauliflower, bell peppers, canned tomatoes, sugar snap peas, or edamame, add them when you add the coconut milk and carrots. I added a generous 2 tablespoons of lime juice and I love the prominent lime undercurrent the dish takes on, especially with the fresh cilantro since they complement each other and the curry beautifully, but add less to taste if you’re not as into lime as I am.
More Easy Thai Curry Recipes:
Coconut Lime Chicken Sweet Potato Curry — An EASY, one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and tastes BETTER than a restaurant!! Juicy chicken and tender sweet potatoes simmer in a lime-scented coconut milk sauce that tastes AMAZING! Healthy comfort food!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken — Better-than-takeout yellow curry is EASY and ready in 25 minutes!! Healthy comfort food with the PERFECT amount of heat and lots of textures and flavors in every bite!
Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry – This vegan gluten-free curry is pure HEALTHY COMFORT FOOD with a fusion of Thai and Indian flavors!! Hearty, delicious, easy, ready in 30 minutes, and the leftovers freeze wonderfully!!
Cauliflower, Chickpea, and Chicken Coconut Curry – An EASY, one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and tastes BETTER than a restaurant!! The Thai-inspired coconut milk broth makes this healthy comfort food taste AMAZING!!
Thai Chicken Coconut Curry – An easy one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! Low-cal, low-carb, and HEALTHY but tastes like comfort food!!
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry – An easy one-skillet curry that’s ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors! Healthy comfort food that tastes amazing!
