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A bowl of homemade red Thai curry shrimp served in a white dish with green handles on a wooden table.
Bakebit

3-Ingredient Thai Red Curry (Easy Dinner Recipe)

An easy, bold-flavored curry you can make in under 15 minutes using pantry staples.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 5
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Can unsweetened coconut milk recommendation: Thai Kitchen
  • 1 Can red curry paste recommendation: Maesri
  • 3-4 tbsp tablespoons Thai peanut stir fry sauce recommendation: Pretty Thai
  • protein of your choice
  • Cooked rice or noddle for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Pot

Method
 

Cooking Instructions
  1. Warm the coconut milk:
    Can of Thai Kitchen coconut milk
  2. Pour a can of unsweetened coconut milk into a saucepan or pot and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir vigorously to break it up and create a smooth base.
    coconut milk being stirred in a silver pot.
  3. Add the red curry paste:
    Can of Maesri curry paste to coconut milk
  4. Once the coconut milk is warm, stir in your red curry paste (I use Maesri brand). Mix well until the paste fully dissolves into the coconut milk.
    Stirring coconut milk and Maesri curry paste in silver pot.
  5. Add peanut sauce:
    image of Pretty Thai: Thai peanut sauc
  6. Stir in 3–4 tablespoons of Thai peanut stir fry sauce. I love Pretty Thai brand because it’s spicier and less sweet. But if you prefer a sweeter curry, go with a milder peanut sauce. Adjust to taste.
  7. Simmer and thicken:
  8. Bring the curry to a boil, then reduce to low-medium heat and let it simmer uncovered. Stir frequently to avoid sticking. Simmer for 5–10 minutes, or until it thickens into a gravy-like consistency. If you prefer a thinner sauce, cook it less.
  9. Prepare your protein:
  10. I used shrimp for this version. I seasoned mine with garlic powder, paprika, and salt, drizzled with 1 tbsp of olive oil, and cooked them in my Cosori air fryer using the preset shrimp setting (about 6 minutes total, flipped at 4 minutes).
    Shrimp in glass bowl
  11. Shrimp in Cosori air fryer
  12. Assemble and serve:
    Cosori Air Fryer
  13. Spoon the curry over cooked rice and top with shrimp (or your protein of choice). Serve hot and enjoy a restaurant quality Thai meal at home.
    Red Thai Curry, shrimp, white rice in a white bowl.

Video

Notes

Tips & Substitutions:
Protein ideas: Leftover grilled meat, rotisserie chicken, tofu, or chickpeas
Rice swap: Jasmine rice, rice noodles, or cauliflower rice
Add veggies: Try bell peppers, zucchini, or frozen peas for a fuller meal