When you’re craving big flavors but not the work that comes with most extravagant dishes, turn to this gourmet Vegan Thai Green Curry.
For an easy 45-minute weeknight dinner, make this green curry with store-bought curry paste (and a few choice extras to amp up the flavor). Or, for the best possible curry, make this with my Homemade Thai Green Curry Paste.
A thoughtful blend of Thai aromatics and herbs, green curry paste, and silky-smooth coconut milk bring bold and fragrant flavors that will make your taste buds dance, while a mix of tofu and vegetables make this a complete dinner.
Table of Contents
1. Why this recipe works
2. Ingredient notes
3. Step-by-step instructions
4. Tips for making this recipe
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Recipe card with notes
Why this recipe works
As close to the real deal as possible.
After hours if not days of researching, watching Thai YouTube videos, and taste-testing Thai green curries from several local Thai restaurants, I feel pretty confident that this vegetarian Thai green curry is as close to the real deal as possible (and super delicious)!
You’ll get *the most amazing* fresh flavor if you make my homemade Thai green curry paste, but even a good-quality store-bought green curry paste will make this curry sing with fantastic flavor.
The homemade paste is a labor of love, but it stays good in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. You can also freeze leftover paste and it tastes just as good in the curry!
Plus, the rest of the ingredients, from fresh lime leaves to Thai basil, all contribute to the characteristic flavors you love in a traditional restaurant-style Thai green curry.
Well-balanced in flavor.
During my time spent backpacking Thailand many years ago, I attended a weekend-long cooking retreat. The most important thing I learned was how to balance flavors to make each dish taste harmonious.
I applied those same teachings to this vegan green curry:
- The curry paste starts things off with a baseline of spicy, pungent, salty, and slightly bitter flavors.
- The fattiness from the coconut milk tempers these strong flavors, while the soy sauce adds the necessary savory punch.
- A bit of coconut sugar adds sweetness to temper the fire while amping up the savoriness.
- To finish, lime leaves infuse bright citrus and a final squeeze of acidic lime juice brightens things up.
Creamy and rich.
A classic Thai curry is full-bodied with a silky and rich mouthfeel, and this curry absolutely delivers thanks to full-fat coconut milk.
We first tested this curry with only 1 can of coconut milk, and it was definitely lacking in texture (chunky but not creamy) and flavor (too spicy, too tangy). We found that with the amount of curry paste, tofu, and vegetables, the curry was begging for more coconut milk.
With 2 cans, the result is nothing short of spectacular! Yes, it’s indulgent and it’s absolutely worth it!
Ingredient notes
Green curry paste. This is the #1 essential ingredient in any Thai green curry. Green curry paste (prik gaeng khiao waan in Thai) is the spicy and fragrant base of the dish, made by pounding chiles, aromatics, herbs, and spices in a mortar and pestle.
Choose between store-bought curry paste (convenient) or my Homemade Thai Green Curry Paste (extra delicious and fresh).
Note: Not all store-bought green curry paste is vegan-friendly, as some contain shrimp paste. Head to the Tips section for my recommended curry paste brands.
Coconut milk. Any Thai curry, whether green or red, requires full-fat coconut milk. Use canned coconut milk or the kind in a shelf-stable box.
Tip: Buy full-fat coconut milk in a can, not coconut cream, cream of coconut, or coconut milk in a carton. Also, choose the brand with the fewest ingredients, if possible.
Substitute: There is no substitute for coconut milk in Thai curry. That said, if you want lighten this curry up, sub ½ to 1 cup (120 to 240 mL) of the canned coconut milk with vegetable broth, vegan “chicken” broth, or water. Or, use 1 can “lite” coconut milk and 1 can full-fat coconut milk.
Lime leaves. One of the must-have ingredients in a classic Thai curry. It brings a magical citrusy aroma and that bright je nais se quois flavor you love in Thai curries.
Where to buy: Fresh lime leaves are sold at Southeast Asian grocers and large Asian markets like HMart. They may be labeled as “lime leaves,” “makrut lime leaves,” or “kaffir lime leaves.”
Substitute: Order dried makrut lime leaves online (affiliate link). Keep them whole or gently crumble or snip each leaf to release more flavor (remove before serving).
Soy sauce. Adds the savory depth of flavor, replacing the more traditionally used ingredient, fish sauce. If you happen to have vegan fish sauce at home, go ahead and use it instead but start with less (2 to 3 teaspoons).
Substitute: Use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce if gluten-free.
Tofu. This is the protein in our vegan green curry. To keep things quick but to improve the texture, tofu cubes are boiled in salted water to give them an enhanced chewy texture and a more enjoyable flavor. It’s the same method I use in my Tofu Curry recipe.
If you love crispy tofu and have a little extra time, pan-fry or bake the tofu instead. Instructions are in the “Can I fry or bake tofu instead?” section.
Vegetables. You’ll find Thai or Chinese eggplant and bamboo shoots in most authentic Thai green curry recipes. You can get creative with your veggie choices if you aren’t a fan of these two—there are several options to choose from in the recipe card!
Thai basil. The Thai basil leaves are stirred into the curry at the end to give it a subtle pop of spice and notes of anise.
Substitute: Use fresh cilantro if you can’t find Thai basil.
Step-by-step instructions
Boil the tofu. Bring a pot of water to a boil. While you wait, slice the tofu into slabs and press out the excess water with a kitchen towel. Chop the slabs into ~ 3/4″ (2 cm) cubes.
Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the boiling water, followed by the tofu. Boil for 2 minutes, then drain.
Note: If you want to fry or bake the tofu instead of boiling it, see the next section.
Start the curry. Add a few spoons of the coconut milk to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Let it bubble for a few minutes before stirring in your green curry paste (store-bought or homemade).
Note: If using store-bought curry paste, add in your extra aromatics (garlic, ginger or galangal, and lemongrass with the curry paste.
Keep stirring until the paste starts to dry out.
Now pour in the rest of the coconut milk.
Add the lime leaves, sugar, and soy sauce. Let the sauce simmer until it starts to thicken.
Add the veggies. Add your vegetables of choice and broth.
Simmer until the vegetables are crisp-tender (eggplant takes the longest).
Note: If using the boiled tofu method, add the boiled tofu with the vegetables.
Turn off the heat and add a squeeze of lime juice if desired. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Remove the lime leaves, then stir in the Thai basil.
Can I fry or bake the tofu instead?
The default method—boiling the tofu—is the quickest and easiest option and still tastes delicious. Boiling the tofu in salted water makes it chewier, so it doesn’t taste like raw tofu and absorbs the curry sauce better.
That said, if you want a crispier tofu, you can definitely pan-fry or bake the tofu (or deep fry if you’re feeling frisky!).
How to pan-fry tofu cubes
- Slice the tofu block into 4 vertical slabs. Gently press down on them with a towel a few times to remove excess water. Weight down the slabs with a heavy cookbook and and press for 10 to 15 minutes, changing the towels in between if you can.
- Chop the tofu into ~ ¾ inch (2 cm) cubes. Position the cubes together on a cutting board. Now sprinkle a few pinches of salt on the cubes.
- Heat 2 to 3 TBSP neutral-flavored oil in a 12-inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Pack the tofu into a spider tool or slotted spoon to make it easy to add it to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu. Push the tofu around in the oil to evenly coat in one layer.
- Fry until golden brown on the bottom, about 5 to 6 minutes. Take a minute or two to carefully flip each piece with a thin spatula. Cook on the second side until golden brown on the bottom, about 4 to 5 minutes. The sides won’t be fried but the crunchy-soft texture combo is great in the curry.
- Transfer tofu to a paper towel lined surface to absorb oil. Push tofu pieces together and sprinkle with salt.
How to Bake tofu cubes
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF/218ºC. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Slice the tofu into 4 vertical slabs, and gently press down on them with a towel several times to remove excess water. Press for 10 minutes, changing the towels in between. Chop the tofu ~ ¾ inch (2 cm) cubes.
- In a large bowl, add the tofu, 1.5 TBSP neutral-flavored oil, 1 tsp kosher salt, and pepper to taste, tossing to coat. Add 2 TBSP arrowroot powder (or potato starch), and as gently as possible, toss with your hands.
- Arrange tofu on the pan in a single layer, spreading out the pieces so they don’t touch.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on the bottom. Flip with a spatula or carefully turn the tofu with your hands. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes until golden and crispy.
Tips for making this recipe
Quality ingredients are essential.
To ensure you’re getting the best, take a trip to your local Southeast or pan-Asian grocery store. Gathering fresh lime leaves, lemongrass, and other aromatics is the best way to make this curry taste like the real deal.
Use homemade Thai curry paste when you have the time.
When you have more time, make this with my from-scratch Thai Green Curry Paste. It takes the flavors over the top and is guaranteed to wow your taste buds. It lends a freshness and depth of flavor that even the best store-bought curry paste can’t replicate.
Or choose the best store-bought green curry paste you can find.
The best vegan-friendly store-bought curry paste I’ve tried is from Maesri, which is much more flavorful (and spicier) than grocery store brands (e.g., Thai Kitchen). Aroy-D also makes a good vegan one, but they sell versions with shrimp paste as well so read labels.
It’s well worth seeking out since it’s the primary flavor base in the curry. Find it online or at Asian grocery stores.
Let it rest a bit.
If you taste this curry as soon as it’s done, it may feel too spicy. Don’t worry, some spiciness mellows after the first 10 to 30 minutes and you start to taste the other flavors more.
Add lemongrass to take it over the top.
If you love lemongrass flavor, take the unused, tough stalks of lemongrass and add them to the curry when you add the coconut milk and soy sauce to infuse. Discard before serving.
Adjust the spice level.
If making homemade green curry paste, read the tips in that post.
If using canned or jarred curry paste, and you want heat, add in a a Thai chile pepper or three (or a serrano pepper) when sautéing the curry paste and aromatics. You can also add 5 tablespoons curry paste.
Pick your preferred tofu method.
To keep things quick, opt for the boiled tofu method. If you love a crispy tofu option, pan-fry the tofu using the instructions in the recipe card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, yes! Green curry has a reputation for being the spiciest type of Thai curry. The heat comes from the spicy green chiles (like Thai green chiles, or serrano peppers / jalapeños) in the green curry paste.
Don’t stress if you aren’t a fan of spicy foods. The heat is toned down once the paste is mixed with the creamy coconut milk And if you make the homemade paste, you can tailor the spiciness more granularly.
The two non-vegan ingredients used in many traditional Thai green curry recipes are shrimp paste (used in the curry paste) and fish sauce (used to flavor the curry).
You can make my homemade curry paste (which subs shrimp paste with miso paste and dried shiitake) or buy a vegan-friendly store-bought paste. As for the fish soy sauce, this recipe uses soy sauce with great results (if you have vegan fish sauce, you can try using that).
I recommend taking a trip to your local Southeast Asian or large pan-Asian grocery store to find all these ingredients.
Lemongrass can also be found at well-stocked grocery stores like Whole Foods and Albertsons.
Lime leaves may be sold as just lime leaves, Makrut lime leaves, or kaffir lime leaves. Dried makrut leaves are a great option that can be purchased online (they’ll stay good for months). Fresh leaves are more potent than dried.
Use a large, sharp knife to slice off the bottom tough nub from the lemongrass stalk, as well as the top tough green stalks.
Remove the papery outer layers from the remaining stalk until you reach the tender, flexible inner white core.
Using a rolling pin, mallet, or the back of a heavy knife, smash down on the lemongrass to bruise it and open it up a bit, then mince, finely chop, or thinly slice with a knife (dependent on recipe instructions). If you have a mortar & pestle, you can pound it finely.
If using homemade green curry paste, you’ll want the full 2 cans, as there’s a lot of pungent spicy heat to balance. If using store-bought curry paste, 1 1/2 cans of coconut milk works great.
Absolutely. Use the vegan protein of your choice, like tempeh or soy curls, or add more vegetables to bulk it up.
Ladle it over a bed of steamed jasmine rice or brown rice! Simple but perfect.
Store the leftover curry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days, though it’s best on day 1 and 2.
It thickens a lot after resting. However, once you reheat it on the stove, it will start to thin out. If needed, add a splash of broth or water to loosen (but not too much).
It’s also freezer-friendly, but I recommend freezing it after simmering the coconut milk mixture for 3 to 4 minutes. Freezing the curry with the tofu and veggies will detract from the final texture.
Video: How to make this recipe
I tried making a Thai curry for my Indian parents
If you love this Vegan Thai Green Curry as much as we do, please rate and review the recipe with your feedback below :) It’s always very much appreciated :)
Big Vegan Flavor
Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.
Incredible Vegan Thai Green Curry
Ingredients
Green Curry Paste (Pick ONE)
- 1 batch Homemade Thai Green Curry Paste OR
- 4 to 5 tablespoons canned Thai green curry paste, plus the below "extras" (Note 1)
Extras if using jarred/canned curry paste
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1- inch piece ginger or galangal, grated or minced
- 2 fresh lemongrass stalks, minced or grated (Note 2)
Tofu (see Note 3)
- 1 (14-ounce/400g) block of firm or extra firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt (or ½ tablespoon sea salt)
Other Ingredients
- 1.5 OR 2 (13.5-oz/400 mL) cans of full-fat coconut milk (Note 4)
- 1 cup (240 mL) vegetable broth, vegan “chicken broth,” or water
- 8 fresh makrut (kaffir) lime leaves, bruised or crushed with your hands (Note 5)
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or brown sugar, more to taste
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce (tamari for GF)
Vegetables of choice (more options in Note 6)
- 1 Chinese or Japanese eggplant, sliced into thin half moons (¼ to ⅛” thick / .5 cm), then sprinkled with salt for 15 minutes to soften (2 to 2 ½ cups total / ~170g)
- 1 medium or large red bell pepper, sliced
Finishing Ingredients
- 1 cup (18g) Thai basil leaves, kept whole (large leaves torn), plus more for garnish
- Freshly squeezed lime juice (if not using lime leaves)
- 1 to 2 mild red chile peppers sliced thinly for garnish (optional, for color)
- Cooked jasmine white rice or brown rice to serve 5
Instructions
- Make the homemade Green Curry Paste in advance, if using.
- Boil the tofu (Note 2). Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Slice the tofu into 4 vertical slabs, and gently press down with a towel several times to remove excess water. Chop into ½ to ¾-inch (~1.5 cm) cubes. Add 1 TBSP kosher salt to boiling water (or 1 ½ to 2 tsp sea salt), followed by tofu. When water returns to a boil, set a timer for 2 minutes. Gently drain.
- Heat a deep 12-inch sauté pan or medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add about 4 tablespoons of the coconut milk. Let it bubble and sizzle, and cook until the oil starts to separate from the milk, 1 ½ to 2 minutes. If it doesn’t really separate, don't worry (depends on the brand).
- Add curry paste, plus extras if using store-bought curry paste. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes, until it starts to dry out a bit. The curry paste might sputter so stand back. If the paste sticks, deglaze with a splash of water.
- Pour in rest of the coconut milk (1.5 cans for jarred curry paste, 2 full cans for homemade curry paste). Add lime leaves, sugar, and soy sauce, and stir. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it just starts to thicken.
- Add the boiled tofu (if using) and gently toss. Add vegetables of choice and broth. Stir to submerge the veg (it's okay if not totally submerged). Partially cover the pan and bring to a rapid simmer, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the veg is tender but still crisp.
- If using baked or fried tofu, add it in. Taste, adding more soy sauce or sugar as needed. If you used lime leaves, remove them; if not, add a squeeze of lime juice. Stir in Thai basil. Flavors will meld and mellow a bit after 15-20 min. Serve over rice and garnish with extra basil and mild red chiles, if using.
Notes
- 1 1/2 cups (140g) snow peas (or snap peas), trimmed
- 1 cup (125g) bamboo shoots, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cups (120g) green beans, trimmed and cut into small pieces
Recipe: Nisha Vora / Rainbow Plant Life | Photography: Megan Morello
love how authentic your family is. food looks amazing!
Loved the user friendly directions and notes. I make a lot of red curry, but had trouble finding a green curry recipe I like that tastes close to our favorite Thai restaurant in town. Finally, I found it. Thank you!!
We’re so happy that the green curry turned out well for you, Jona. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and for trying out the recipe!
I decided to make this recipe after watching the YouTube video with your parents. This was fabulous. The Thai restaurants in my area are pretty good but not great, so I took the time to make my own curry paste per your instructions. Definitely way fresher tasting than the typical jarred curry paste (though I’m sure it would still taste good with that version, too!).
Thanks for the lovely review, Corey! :)
Hi,
Thank you so much for your very tasty green currypaste dish. In its ground it’s very good this time is became so strong and way too spicy so we could’nt eat it. I don’t know what made it so spicy? but it might be too much paste or the chili it was medium hot. Anyway i manage to take away most of the sauce and add a new coconutmilk and then it was still very spicy, but eatable.
Do you have any for not making it too spicy. With that said i normally normally tolerate and love quite spicy food, so Thank you again.
Best regards Ellen
Hi Ellen, we are happy to hear you enjoyed the curry!
Sorry to hear that the dish was a bit too spicy, did you make the curry paste from scratch? You could have potentially added too many chilis and their seeds. Otherwise, yes, we recommended mild chilis to top the curry with as to not make it too spicy.
We hope you’re able to get it just right next time!
Delicious flavor. I really loved it. Only question is mine was a bit too thin/watery consistency. How can I make it a thicker, more creamy texture? Thanks!
Hi Theresa, sorry to hear that! It might depend on the brand of coconut milk you used, as some brands have lower ratios of coconut cream to water. I would also go down to ½ cup (120 mL) broth to make it less liquidy.
Oh my! Delicious!! Made it for first time with store bought curry and followed the recipe. I did not have thai basil and used the coriander as suggested. The next time – because there will many – I will use the basil. This will be a repeat. Thank you this amazing recipe!
Thank you for your lovely comment, Lisa! It makes us happy to know that you enjoyed the recipe.
My husband made this tonight and it was absolutely amazing – better than the restaurant that we usually go to! I am looking forward to having leftovers tomorrow night.
Wow, what a compliment, Eva! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review :)
I’ve made a lot of green curry recipes in my day and this is by far the best one. An easy 5/5. Thank you!
Awesome, Matthew. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
I was initially daunted by this recipe but between the detailed steps and YouTube video, it was honestly pretty easy (after a quick trip to HMart)! This dish tastes like something you would buy at a restaurant. Made for dinner for some friends and everyone loved it!
Hi Daisy, it’s great to hear you had success with the recipe. Thanks for the review!
Really yummy, thankyou!
Awesome, Tim. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!