Brothy Thai Curry With Silken Tofu and Herbs Recipe (2024)

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AnneR

Scallions are easy to grow. Save the bottom bit with the roots and stick in water or dirt. I started doing this at the beginning of the pandemic and now have a bumper crop!

Mary Young

This is my basic Thai red curry recipe but I alternate tofu, shrimp or chicken. The curry itself freezes extremely well. Cook longer if you want a thicker sauce to use over stir fried veggies, rice or noodles.

Uhura

Before scallions got outrageous, I started cutting halfway up the white and sticking them in the ground. You harvest them the same way and they grow back over and over. I haven't bought scallions for years now.

JenniferA

I made this exactly as written, and the flavors of the broth are delicious. This was my first time eating silken tofu, and I really liked the texture it added. However, there has to be a way to warm it up. As soon as the hot broth hit the cold tofu, the whole thing was lukewarm with cold bites of tofu. If I make this again, I might cut the tofu up into pieces and heat it with the broth.

Laura

I learned how to warm silken tofu from Fuchsia Dunlop’s marvelous cookbooks. Bring a small pan of lightly salted water to a soft boil, scoop out large chunks of silken tofu and submerge them, and gently simmer for 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. The same technique can be used for firm tofu, but be careful not to go above a gentle simmer, as boiling renders the tofu porous.

Steve

Also depends on the brand you use. Thai Kitchens is relatively low on heat (and flavor). Mae Ploy is relatively high on heat (and flavor). Given that the paste is diluted by more than six cups of liquid, two or three tablespoons of Thai Kitchens should be relatively mild. Half that for Mae Ploy.

Danae

Add 1 tbsp fish sauce

Deb

What about not adding any salt to the recipe, using reduced sodium soy sauce and low sodium /no sodium vegetable stock to lower the sodium content in the soup, if it is a concern? Everyone should always cook with their health front and center and alter recipes in a way that is still pleasing but healthier if necessary. That squeeze of lime juice will help trick your taste buds into not missing all that sodium!

mhross58

The curry was decent, not too hot as written, so there's room to amp it up. In my opinion, the addition of cherry tomatoes was odd in this recipe. I used fresh (imported, because...January in the Midwest) but I felt they were more of a nuisance, bobbing in the broth, rather than an enhancement. Like others, I added bok choy; other greens would work well, too. I served over rice noodles because it is a bit sparse without.

Vic

Scallions are shockingly expensive these days. Try this with shallots or red onions instead. Adds crunch and a bit more sharpness than scallions but... pandemic & supply chain be dam_ed.

LuigiDC89

Did this as-is with exception of putting some bok choi on top for a little greens. Used fresh cherry tomatoes - about 1.5 cups of not a touch more - but before throwing them in dice them up so they release their juices. Would probably go with canned next time. A splash of fish sauce/colatura to give a touch of depth would help but maybe tomorrow the leftovers will mature more as all dishes like this do.

Mari

At step 3, when heat reduced to medium, I added some chopped red pepper, broccoli florets and sugar-snap peas - the veggies cooked in the broth. As we are not vegetarian, I used shredded cooked leftover chicken - added at the end of Step 3, after the coconut milk, and warmed throughLeft out Steps 4 and 5, obviouslyTopped the curry with spring onions ('scallions') which are cheap here in the UK ,and Thai Basil and Coriander (Cilantro)

Bob

I use both green and red curry paste frequently and usually use 2 tablespoons (1/8 cup) which is still quite spicy, so I would use much less if your family doesn't like things "hot" --- certainly no more than one tablespoon.

Sandy J

Following the advice given I doubled the curry paste. We wanted a full meal out of this so I added whatever veggies I had in fridge: sliced carrots, red onion , slivered cabbage, cut green beans and shiitake mushrooms. Didn’t have silken tofu but did have firm so diced firm tofu also went in. It was fabulous and a great meatless meal. Will make again.

Lynn

Do you think this could work with Green vs Red Curry paste? I'd hate to have to buy a special jar of Red Curry paste when I already have and normally use Green... Tx.

Karen

This is one of my favorite dishes and is good with both red or green curry paste.

Lauren Spark

Where has this broth been all my life?? The flavor is so complex and so easy to make. Instead of tofu, I add in the soy sauce and a ton of veggies in the middle of step 3 before the 10 min simmer. And just use a can of diced tomatoes instead of cherry. This soup only gets better after it sits in the fridge for a few days. Great leftovers.

K Johnson

My BF and I are wimps for spice so I added about .5-1 cup oat milk and it made for an addictively creamy broth

SteffieB

This is one of those dishes that I can’t believe I made myself. In my own kitchen!! So, so good. I added bok choy, and would certainly add mushrooms and broccoli as others have said, but I wish I hadn’t added salt. There is one Italian brand of canned cherry tomatoes at my Market Basket and I’m so glad I used them, though then thought I might use last season’s frozen cherry tomatoes, too.. but not fresh because I want them to cook down. Now I want to try with green curry, too. So good.

Just Made - Absolutely Delish

Used many recommendations from others here: added 2 kaffir lime leaves (but should have served w lime wedges), ~1 tbsp fish sauce, soba noodles and the veggies I had on hand: red bell pepper, shiitake mushrooms, n shredded kale.

Clare

This was not good. Choose any curry recipe! Save yourself.

Drude

*cut up tofu and soak in hot water to warm*in each bowl put ramen and tofu, pour curry over*add soy sauce directly to curry*added yellow pepper and broccoli for last 6 min.*mix of cilantro and basil

Viv

Made a few changes but this will become a household staple. Doubled the recipe. Omitted the whole tomatoes and added tomato paste for thickness, replaced veggie stock with chicken broth, subbed 4 bone in skin on chicken thighs for the tofu. Used fresh cilantro and basil for topping and added 1/4 of the mixture in before bringing up to a boil. Served over brown rice noodles and added bok choy on top for crunch.

KJ Evans

Check out Asian markets for truly affordable scallions (and lots of other vegetables). Last month I bought 3 bunches for 99 cents (as opposed to one bunch at my local market for $1.29) I'll be sprouting my own, too - thanks for the reminder at how easy this is to do!

Sa Wa

Very nice, but a tad laborious in terms of all the little bits. The herbs quantity is excessive methinks, and I'd just make them optional. Flavor is great without them. Highly concur with JenniferA re: cold or room temp tofu cools the soup way too much too fast. I used firm, as silken wasn't around, and so just plopped those bad girls into the broth a minute before serving. Prego!

joseph g

Made this as described (although I doubled the garlic per usual). Absolutely incredible. We couldn’t stop commenting. Served it with some coconut ginger rice from World Market. I can’t wait to make it again.

pwtesuji

Exquisite.

Casey

Really enjoyed this recipe! Very tasty and feels good for your body. Highly recommend!

Realist

Question: Will this work with firm tofu instead of silken tofu? I seldom keep silken in the house.

Rachael

Silken tofu can be cold if you don’t break it up enough. Otherwise delicious!

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Brothy Thai Curry With Silken Tofu and Herbs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to Thai curry? ›

The secret to making amazing Thai curries is to use plenty of aromatics, like onion, ginger and garlic.

How do Thai restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

Often, Thai curries are made using coconut milk as the main liquid, which results in a creamy consistency. You can use as much or as little coconut milk as you wish based on your preference for texture, spice, and flavor.

How to make Thai curry more flavourful? ›

10 tips for the perfect Thai curry:
  1. Homemade paste for the best taste.
  2. Fresh Thai ingredients for vibrancy.
  3. Toast the spices to wake them up.
  4. Turmeric for colour and seasoning.
  5. Pound the paste to release its flavour.
  6. Fry the paste in coconut oil.
  7. Caramel adds sweetness and depth.
  8. Choose your protein.

What to use instead of coconut milk in Thai curry? ›

8 best substitutes for coconut milk
  1. Shredded coconut (and a blender)
  2. Coconut cream.
  3. Plant-based milk and coconut oil.
  4. Coconut water and plant-based milk.
  5. Coconut cream.
  6. Milk or plant-based milk.
  7. Evaporated milk.
  8. Heavy cream or half-and-half.
Dec 30, 2022

What thickens a Thai curry? ›

Cornflour

Ideal for Chinese sauces or Thai curries but can also be used for Indian curries. Add one tablespoon of cornflour to two or three tablespoons of cold water and stir. Pour the mixture into the sauce and allow to simmer until the sauce begins to thicken. Which doesn't take very long.

What makes restaurant Thai curry so good? ›

An interesting characteristic of Thai curries is that they are made of fresh ingredients only. Contrary to the Indian cooking, Thai restaurant prefers to use fresh herbs and spices to make the curry dishes, including fresh chillies and roots.

Is it better to use coconut cream or milk in Thai curry? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

Does Thai curry use coconut milk or coconut cream? ›

The majority of Thai curries are made with coconut milk as the main liquid, which produces creamier curries, but they're not necessarily “rich.” The amount of coconut milk can vary by quite a lot, depending on the texture one is looking for: massaman curry, for example, is quite rich because it uses coconut milk and is ...

What are the three types of Thai curry? ›

There are three main types of Thai curries—red, yellow, and green—which are categorized by the color of the curry paste. The color of the chilies and other ingredients gives each curry its distinct hue. Traditionally, all Thai curries were made with the same ingredients except for one thing: the chilies.

What spice makes Thai curry hot? ›

The ground turmeric gives the spice blend its signature color and will color whatever dish you add it to. It's a nice, mild curry, but can be made milder or hotter depending on how much chili you add.

What spices make curry sweeter? ›

Both garam masala and coriander powder are added to those creamy gravy curries. Other sweet-smelling spices such as cinnamon (which may be the secondary source of sweet aromas, or the main source in curries that don't have coriander), cardamom and nutmeg are also usually included in garam masala.

Can I use stock instead of coconut milk? ›

A lot of Thai-style curries do not even use coconut milk, they use broth or stock for a less viscous (soupy) consistency. I actually prefer my curries like this, especially for lunch, it makes for a much lighter meal (less saturated fat is always good) and less of a "curry hangover".

Can I use yogurt instead of coconut milk in a curry? ›

Yogurt. Like heavy cream and half and half, higher fat plain yogurts of all types could also substitute coconut milk for the color and a similarly smooth and creamy texture. Because yogurt has a lower fat content than coconut milk, the consistency could be slightly thinner with the 1:1 substitution ratio.

Is coconut milk necessary for Thai curry? ›

Most Thai curries, other than Jungle curry, use coconut milk to add the texture and sweetness to the dish, so it is very important to use a good quality "full fat" coconut milk. The low-fat varieties are not worth the compromise.

What are the secret ingredients to a good curry? ›

Indian chef Maunika Gowardhan suggests using tomato purée, coconut milk or yoghurt as natural thickening agents to achieve the perfect consistency. Adding ground nuts such as almonds or peanuts can also be a great way to ensure your curry is a knockout.

What makes Thai curry different? ›

Traditionally, all Thai curries were made with the same ingredients except for one thing: the chillies. Red curry was made with several red chillies for a fiery hot dish, while green curry was made with green chillies, and yellow curry was made with yellow chillies.

How do you give Thai curry depth? ›

As well as heat, you need something salty – shrimp paste, or fish sauce – and some aromatics, like lemongrass and galangal, as well as the shallots and garlic which give the curry pungency and depth.

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