Thai green curry is one of the popular curry dishes enjoyed by Thai people. This dish is normally prepared by combining fresh green vegetables with meat. As per the general perception green curry is associated with chicken; but now-a-days various ingredients like shrimp, beef, pork, and fish balls are also used in the preparation of dish. The curry is fondly called Gaeng Keow Wahnin Thai which translates to “sweet green curry”. Green curry is equally hotter as its red counterpart but hotness and sweetness of the dish is somewhat balanced in this curry; however at time there is a slight prominence of sweet tones. The dish can be easily cooked up with any handy green curry paste. Now-a-days the green paste used in preparation of Thai green curry can be easily purchased from any departmental store across Thailand.
Origin of Thai Green
Some historical anecdotes suggest that Thai Green curry is of Asian origin but authentic Thai green curry recipe underwent several changes since then, incorporating the taste preferences of many curry lovers across the world. Today many of these dish variants are popular across the world. The Thai green curry was introduced to other countries by the expatriate Thai population.
Thai Green Curry Recipe- Essential Ingredients and Method of Preparation
Some of the common ingredients used in the preparation of Thai green are green curry paste, coconut milk, sea salt, pea, aubergine, fish sauce, kaffir leaves etc. The consistency of curry is managed by coconut milk. The green paste used in the preparation of the dish is made by pounding greens like shallots, garlic, mortar green chilies, kaffir lime peel, galangal, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, shrimp paste, salt and white peppercorn. The green paste is fried in coconut cream before adding to the vegetables and meat. The curry is flavored by integrating herbs like kaffir lime leaves, Thai Basil, phrik chi fa. The fish/chicken/beef are added towards the end of preparation.
Simple Thai Green Curry Recipe
This is about a very simple Thai Green curry preparation where ingredients such as green curry paste, coconut milk, chicken breasts, green beans, spring onions, red chilies, coriander and lime juice are blended in unique proportions. The paste is lightened by frying in oil and mixed with coconut milk, and vegetables and chicken are added to the cooking paste. The dish is decorated with small sticks of sliced red chilly. The herbs are added towards the end of cooking to induce a distinct flavor. When done with the cooking, lime juice is added to the dish. The ratio of ingredients of this basic recipe of Thai green curry may vary as per one’s taste preferences.
Eating and Serving Thai Green Curry
This dish is mostly enjoyed with steamed rice. It also tastes good with flavorsome rice specialties such as steamed Jasmine rice and is normally teamed with some other dishes such as gaeng joot soup, crispy fried fish, and Thai chili paste with raw or steamed vegetables. Also, the dish is served with traditional Thai rice noodles known as khanom chin.