Panang Curry Paste Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is panang paste made of? ›

Panang curry paste is the key flavor ingredient in the wonderful, savory-sweet Thai panang curry. Common ingredients used to make it include dried chili peppers, galangal, lemongrass, makrut lime zest, cilantro root and seeds, garlic, shallot, shrimp paste, salt, and peanuts.

Panang curry paste is what you'll see in authentic panang curry recipes, but it is somewhat difficult to find in the U.S. A great substitute for panang curry is red curry, because the two taste quite similar.

Panang curry is typically milder, sweeter, and richer, due to the addition of peanuts and the lower amount of chili used in the curry paste. Red curry, on the other hand, is often spicier and more aromatic, courtesy of a larger quantity of red chilies used to create the curry paste.

Panang curry is rich and creamy, spicy yet balanced, with underlying notes of peanut and coconut. I make my panang curry with lots of bell peppers and carrots, and optional tofu for extra protein. It's a perfectly satisfying weeknight meal for cold days.

The main difference is that Panang Curry has a little less chilli and slightly more mellow flavour, and also has roasted peanuts mixed through (which we do with good old peanut butter). Meaning – if you can't find Panang Curry paste, just get Red instead.

It is healthy and delicious and packed full of flavor. Panang curries are from Thailand, where they use curry pastes that come in green or red, making this one of the easiest curry with chicken recipes out there. Thai food has a special place in my heart, and Thai Panang curry recipes are a comfort food like no other.

Finally, if you want to go the store-bought route, but can't find canned panang curry paste, you can easily doctor up a can of store-bought red curry paste by pounding it in a mortar and pestle with one stalk of lemongrass (prepared following the recipe instructions below), along with the same quantity of peanuts, ...

Massaman has much more complex in flavour and includes ingredients like mace (outer covering of nutmeg), cinnamon, clove and cardamon. These additional ingredients make this dish towards Malaysian and Indian flavours. Panang Thai curry is basically Red Thai curry's sister, just a sweeter and milder version!

For example: yellow curry paste contains curry powder and turmeric, panang curry paste has cumin seeds and coriander seeds, massaman curry paste has a whole truckload of dry spices, and green curry paste uses fresh green chiles.

The word “Panang” is from the ancient Khmer language that was adopted by the Thai. It means “cross” and mostly refers to sitting cross-legged on the floor. In the old-time, people would cross the chicken's legs and cook the chicken upright instead of open.

Which Thai curry taste the best? ›

1. Green Curry. This Green Curry is one of the best Thai curries if you like hot, spicy food. It's creamy, fiery, and delicious, deriving its heat from a generous amount of green chilies.

Of course, you can make your panang curry paste as spicy or sweet as you like. Shop-bought Panang curry pastes often don't include peanuts for allergy reasons, but peanuts are a key ingredient, so as long as you aren't intolerant, they must go in!

"Spicy Panang Curry is a popular Thai restaurant staple. My favorite is a simplified version made with plain vegetables, but chicken, beef or pork may be added. Add steamed white rice and you have a complete meal.

Usually, the Panang curry also includes a bunch of various vegetables. While very similar to red curry, Penang is usually seasoned to be less spicy than red curry and has the added ingredient of peanuts that gives it a sweeter flavor.

It is actually a Thai spice/curry but panang curry takes it name from the city island off the West coast of peninsular Malaysia, Penang, or Pulau Pinang in Malay. This type of curry is richer, sweeter, and creamier than the more herbal Thai red curry or green curry , making it very popular with westerners.

For example: yellow curry paste contains curry powder and turmeric, panang curry paste has cumin seeds and coriander seeds, massaman curry paste has a whole truckload of dry spices, and green curry paste uses fresh green chiles.

Yellow Curry draws on turmeric and dried curry for a rich, savory flavor and yellow color. Panang Curry has the nutty, mellow flavor and texture of roasted peanuts ground right into the curry paste.

Panang curry is a curry that is hard-pressed and not spicy. Panang is often flavoured with a sweet taste and doesn't have a lot of vegetables. Usually, it uses only red chilli, sliced long beans and torn kaffir lime leaves or sliced as decoration.