Real Vegan Thai Green Curry With Gluten-Free Options

By
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt is a cookbook author and culinary teacher who specializes in Thai cuisine.
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Updated on 06/24/21
Green curry
The Spruce
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings
Yield: 3 to 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
448 Calories
37g Fat
21g Carbs
15g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 448
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 48%
Saturated Fat 20g 102%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1166mg 51%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 49mg 246%
Calcium 357mg 27%
Iron 9mg 50%
Potassium 890mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Enjoy an authentic and delicious Thai green curry recipe for the vegetarian palate. It includes all of the authentic trimmings—lemongrass, coriander seeds, green chilies, galangal, makrut lime leaves, coconut milk—without the meat. Instead, it uses meat substitutes: wheat gluten or tofu, take your pick.

This recipe is vegan, and you can also choose to make it gluten-free. Any way you cook it, it is such a tasty meal, you'll tend to forget just how healthy it is.

1:45

Click Play to See This Vegan Thai Green Curry Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

For the Green Curry Paste

  • 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced finely and minced, or 3 tablespoons frozen or bottled lemongrass

  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander

  • 2 teaspoons groud cumin

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce, gluten-free if needed

  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 to 3 green chilies, sliced, to taste

  • 1/4 cup shallot, or purple onion

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • 1 (1 to 2-inch) piece fresh ginger, grated

  • 2 makrut lime leaves

  • 1 loosely packed cup cilantro, chopped leaves and stems

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup fresh basil

For the Stir-Fry

  • 1 can coconut milk

  • 1 cup vegetable stock

  • 2 makrut lime leaves, or 2 to 3 bay leaves

  • 1 1/2 cups tofu, medium-firm and sliced into cubes, or chickpeas

  • 1 small sweet potato, cubed

  • 1 small zucchini, sliced

  • 1/2 cup snow peas

  • Fresh basil, for garnish

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons oil, for frying

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Vegetarian green curry ingredients
    The Spruce 

  2. Place all of the "green curry paste" ingredients in a food processor or blender.

    Green curry ingredients in blender
    The Spruce 

  3. Add 1/3 can coconut milk (or enough to blend the ingredients) and process well.

    Blended coconut milk and green curry
    The Spruce

  4. Heat a wok or deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle in oil and add the processed paste. Stir-fry until fragrant (about 2 minutes).

    Curry paste cooking in a wok
    The Spruce

  5. Add stock along with the lime or bay leaves.

  6. When the sauce comes to a gentle boil, reduce heat to medium-low or just until you get a nice simmer.

  7. Add sweet potato plus tofu or wheat gluten.

  8. Simmer 7 to 10 minutes, or until the sweet potato is soft enough to pierce with a fork.

  9. Add bell pepper and zucchini.

    Vegetables in curry paste in wok
    The Spruce

  10. Stir and continue cooking for 5 more minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked but still retain their color and form.

    Vegetables and curry paste cooking in a wok
    The Spruce

  11. Reduce heat to low and add about 1/4 cup more coconut milk. Stir to dissolve and do a taste-test. If it's not salty enough, add more soy sauce or salt. If it's too salty, add a little fresh lime or lemon juice. If it's too spicy, add more coconut milk until you reach the desired taste.

  12. To serve, transfer to a large serving bowl or individual bowls. Sprinkle generously with fresh basil. Accompany with Thai jasmine-scented rice or easy Thai coconut rice.

    Green curry with vegetables
    The Spruce

  13. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

  • Fish sauce is normally used to flavor green curry. If you eat fish, using fish sauce instead of soy sauce will give you a greener-looking curry paste.
  • If not, Thai Golden Mountain Sauce is an excellent vegan substitute for fish sauce. For a nice rich flavor, try using equal parts soy sauce and Golden Mountain sauce to equal a total of 3 to 3 1/2 tablespoons.
  • The vegetables listed in the recipe are not your only options. Other vegetables that will work include broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, chopped spinach, green beans, eggplant, squash, and zucchini. This should give you plenty of options to take advantage of the season's best produce, no matter what time of year it is.
  • Make this dish gluten-free by selecting a wheat-free soy sauce, stock, and using chickpeas as your source of protein.

Gluten-Free Options

It's easy to ensure that this dish does not include gluten; you just have to choose a few ingredients wisely. The biggest culprit is the soy sauce, so be sure to look for a brand that is wheat-free.

You do also have to be careful about the stock. In general, the majority of vegetable stock is going to be gluten-free, but some may include a wheat-based yeast extract. Faux chicken stock may contain gluten as well. Check the packaging on any new brand of broth you try. It's also easy to make your own vegetable stock, which will give you peace of mind because you know what's in it.

Keep in mind that some flavored tofus may include ingredients that contain gluten. In most cases, plain tofu should be gluten-free. Tempeh is an alternative to tofu, but you need to read the labels as some include wheat.

Chickpeas are another safe protein source for gluten-free diets and a fantastic choice for this dish. Just remember to soak dried chickpeas overnight first.

Other gluten-free and vegan "meats" are available. Explore your local stores to see what's available. Who knows, you might just find a new favorite protein.

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