I don’t eat out often, but when I do it’s usually at a Thai restaurant where I typically order vegetarian Thai green curry. It’s vegetables simmered in coconut milk flavored with green curry paste and served with rice. Thai curries are often prepared without oil, though they aren’t fat-free due to the coconut milk and cream.
The owner of one of my favorite local restaurants, Thai Bowl in Watertown, CT, shared tips for making this dish—I’m very grateful!
Thai Curry Pastes
Don’t confuse Indian pastes with Thai pastes—they are different.
Thai curry pastes come in yellow, red, and green, producing correspondingly colored curries. They season the coconut broth, and their quality greatly affects the final dish. Yellow is usually the mildest, green is typically the hottest, and red sits in between.
Below the recipe card I discuss two green curry paste brands suitable for home cooks. The brands I recommend are vegan; some commercial pastes may contain shrimp paste, so always check labels.
Making your own paste is possible if you have access to the ingredients—I’ll share a recipe in a future post.
Method Overview
- Cook the rice
- Roast the eggplant cubes
- Prepare the seasoned coconut broth
- Simmer the vegetables in the broth
Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Recipe (Soy-Free)
Equipment
- covered medium-sized saucepan
- baking sheet
- large skillet, stainless steel or non-stick
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups dry Jasmine rice, or Basmati rice
- 1/2 pound eggplant (Asian or Italian globe), about 2 cups cubed
- 3 cups unsweetened coconut milk (carton)
- 5.4 ounces unsweetened coconut cream
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 or 2 Tablespoons green curry paste (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
- 1-1/2 red bell peppers, cut into 1/4-inch strips
- 2 cups bite-sized broccoli florets
- 1-1/4 cups peas
- 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 12 fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Rinse the rice and cook it in a covered saucepan following package directions so it finishes when the rest of the meal is ready.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment. Cut the unpeeled eggplant into 1-inch cubes and arrange in a single layer. Roast about 20 minutes, until very soft and lightly golden.
- Whisk together the coconut milk, coconut cream, vegetable broth, curry paste, and salt in a bowl. Taste and add more curry paste or salt if needed.
- Pour the seasoned coconut broth into a large skillet over medium heat and bring to a low simmer. Add the roasted eggplant, red peppers, broccoli, and peas. Simmer about 15 minutes until vegetables are cooked but still slightly crisp. Do not boil or overcook. Stir in the lime juice just before serving.
- To serve, place about 3/4 cup of rice in each bowl, top with the vegetables, and spoon the coconut broth over the top.
- Garnish each bowl with 2 basil leaves.
Notes
Feel free to add or substitute vegetables such as string beans, bamboo shoots, carrots, or zucchini.
The coconut broth should be soupy and plentiful in each bowl.
Nutrition
Vegan Green Curry Paste Brands
I’ve made this dish with Thai Kitchen’s green curry paste, but I prefer Maesri for its stronger, more authentic flavor. Both brands are commonly available—check labels if you need a vegan product.
Maesri Green Curry Paste
- Spicier—start with 1 to 2 tablespoons and adjust to taste
- Often packaged in cans
- Available online and at Asian grocery stores
- Robust flavor commonly used by Thai restaurants
Thai Kitchen Green Curry Paste
- Milder—you may need 3–4 tablespoons depending on preference
- Typically packaged in glass jars
- Available online and at some grocery stores
- I use Thai Kitchen for red curry, but prefer other brands for green paste
What’s your favorite green curry paste? Or do you make your own? Share your preference in the comments.
Optional Omnivore Variations
For non-vegans, add one of the following to individual bowls before serving:
- Cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp
- Steamed, thinly sliced boneless chicken
More Soy-Free Vegan Recipes
If you enjoy this Vegetarian Thai Green Curry, you may also like other soy-free vegan recipes on the site.