7 Best Yellow Curry Paste Substitutes

What would happen if you accidentally ordered yellow curry paste instead of red curry paste at your local Thai restaurant?

Well, you’d probably get some pretty good food, but it wouldn’t taste quite the same.


Thai cuisine has become very popular over the years, especially in the United States.

The country is known for its delicious dishes such as Pad Thai, green curries, and spicy soups.

If you want to try these dishes at home, then you’ll need to prepare them correctly.

There are several types of curry paste available in supermarkets and stores.

Some of them are red, while others are yellow.

Red curry paste contains turmeric, which gives it its color.

Yellow curry paste contains turmeric and galangal, which give it its flavor

What is Yellow Curry Paste?

Yellow curry paste is a spice blend used in Thai cuisine. It is usually made from dried chiles, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, ginger, shrimp paste, coriander seeds, turmeric, cumin, salt, sugar, tamarind, lime juice, coconut milk, fish sauce, and chili powder.

Best Yellow Curry Substitutes

Yellow curry paste is a common ingredient in Thai dishes. It is typically made from dried chilies, shallots, garlics, lemongrass lemong, galangal galangal, ginger, shrimp paste, turmeric, coriander seeds cilantro, cumin, salt, tamarind, sugar, lime juice, coconut cream, fish sauce, and red pepper flakes.
You can substitute yellow curry paste with any other Thai seasoning such as red curry paste, green curry paste, sweet basil paste, kaffir lime leaves paste, and bird eye chillies paste.

1. Curry powder

Curry powder is a blend of spices used in Indian cuisine. It is usually available in packets and comes in many different varieties. It is a mixture of herbs and spices that gives a distinctive flavor to curries. In India, curry powder is used in almost every dish. It is added to soups, stews, gravies, sauces, and even desserts.
2. Garam masala
Garam masala is a spice mix used in South Asian cuisines. It is a combination of various spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, bay leaf, mace, and fennel seed. It is used in meat dishes, vegetable dishes, and desserts.

2. Thai red curry paste

Thai red curry paste is a blend of dried chilies, shallots, garlic, galangal root, lemongrass, lime leaves, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, shrimp paste, salt, sugar, and coconut milk. It is used in curries, stir-fry dishes, salads, and desserts.
3. Madras curry powder
Madras curry powder is a blend of turmeric, chili peppers, ginger, garlic, cilantro, and other spices. It is used in Indian cuisine.

3. Shrimp paste

Shrimp paste is a fermented mixture of ground shrimp and salt. It is used in Southeast Asian cuisines.
4. Curry powder
Curry powder is a spice mix used in many different types of cuisines. It contains a combination of herbs and spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, mustard seed, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, mace, bay leaf, black pepper, and sometimes cocoa.

4. Thai green curry paste

Shrimp paste is a type of condiment made from salted shrimp usually dried mixed with other ingredients. In Thailand, it is usually sold in plastic bags, but in Singapore, it is available in jars. It is used as a seasoning in dishes like curries, stir-fry, soups, salads, and desserts.
5. Kaffir lime leaves
Kaffir lime leaves are a common ingredient in Asian cuisine. They impart a distinctive flavor to dishes like Thai curries, Chinese stir-fried vegetables, and Vietnamese pho soup. They are also used in Indian pickles and chutneys.

5. Pad Thai sauce

Pad Thai sauce is a popular dish in Thailand. It consists of noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, tofu, peanuts, and fried shallots. The sauce is typically served with the dish.
6. Tamarind pulp
Tamarind pulp is a thick, dark syrup produced from tamarind pods. It is used as an acidulant in many Southeast Asian cuisines, especially in Thai cuisine. It is added to sauces, soups, and stews.

6. Laksa

Laksa is a spicy noodle soup originating from Malaysia and Singapore. It is usually eaten with rice but can be enjoyed with bread rolls or even pancakes. It is traditionally made with coconut milk, fish sauce, lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chillies, and other spices.
7. Sago pearls
Sago pearls are tiny balls of tapioca starch that resemble pearl sago. They are used as a thickener in various dishes such as desserts, ice cream, and beverages.

7. Home Made Thai Yellow Curry Paste

Thai yellow curry paste is a popular ingredient in Thai cuisine. It is typically prepared using dried chilies, shallots, garlic, ginger, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, shrimp paste, tamarind pulp, sugar, salt, and water.
8. Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is obtained from grating the meat of mature coconuts. It is widely used in Southeast Asian cuisines. Coconut milk is generally used in curries, soups, sauces, sweets, drinks, and desserts.

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Paste

1. Ingredients: 1/2 cup 120 ml vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 3 tablespoons minced ginger root, 1 tablespoon finely chopped galangal root, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon shrimp paste, 1/4 teaspoon tamarind concentrate, 1/4 teaspoon fish sauce, 1/4 teaspoon lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/4 cup 60 ml coconut cream, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, 1/4 cup sliced green beans, 1/4 cup shredded carrots, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup julienned cucumber, 1/4 cup thinly sliced cabbage, 1/4 cup bean sprouts, 1/4 cup mung bean sprouts, 1 stalk lemongrass, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon minced shallot, 1 tablespoon minced basil leaves, 1 tablespoon minced mint leaves, 1 tablespoon minced cilantro leaves, 1 tablespoon minced kaffir lime leaves, 1 tablespoon minced

What can you use instead of yellow curry paste?

You can use any other type of curry paste but if you want to get the authentic taste of Thai cuisine you should use yellow curry paste.

How long does it take to cook rice?

What is the difference between red and yellow curry paste?

Rice takes about 20 minutes to cook. Red curry paste contains turmeric while yellow curry paste contains ginger.

Can I use yellow curry powder instead of paste?

Yes, but it won’t taste the same. Yellow curry powder doesn’t have the same flavor profile as the paste. It’s not recommended to substitute yellow curry powder for paste because it will affect the overall flavor of the dish.

What can I use if I don’t have curry paste?

You can use any other type of curry powder, but it won’t have the same flavor. For instance, red curry powder is very similar to green curry powder, but it has a different color.

Is yellow curry the same as Panang?

Yellow curry is not the same as panang curry. It’s a Thai style curry.
What is the difference between Thai and Indian curries?
Answer: Thai curries are milder than Indian curries. They’re usually sweeter and spicier.
How do you make a good curry sauce?
Answer: A good curry sauce is made from coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, ginger, garlic, and spices.

What is Thai yellow curry called?

Thai yellow curry is known as Khao Soi Gai.
Why does my curry taste different every time I make it?
Answer: Every time you make curry, the ingredients change slightly. This is because each ingredient reacts differently with the other ingredients. For instance, if you use turmeric instead of saffron, the color of the curry changes.

What does yellow curry paste taste like?

Yellow curry paste tastes sweet and spicy. It is usually used in curries such as chicken curry, beef curry, vegetable curry, fish curry, and seafood curry.
How long does it take to make homemade curry powder?
Answer: Homemade curry powder takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to make.

What spice gives yellow curry its color?

Curry powder contains turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, black pepper, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, mace, bay leaves, and other spices.

Is Madras curry paste the same as yellow curry paste?

Curry paste is a mixture of spices used to flavor Indian dishes. It comes in different forms such as powder, paste, and liquid. Curry pastes are usually made from a combination of turmeric, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, ginger, garlic, chili peppers, and other ingredients.
You can substitute curry paste with any spice mix. For instance, if you want to make a vegetarian version of a dish, you can replace the curry paste with a spice blend. However, if you want to add more flavor to the dish, you can always add extra spices.

Is Madras curry the same as yellow curry?

Curry paste is used to enhance the flavor of curries. It is usually added to dishes such as Indian curries, Thai curries, Malaysian curries, Indonesian curries, Sri Lankan curries, and Nepalese curries. Curry pastes vary from mild to spicy depending on how hot the dish is meant to be. A mild curry paste contains only spices while a spicy curry paste adds chili peppers, garlic, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, mustard seeds, and other ingredients.

Do you need curry paste for curry?

Madras curry is a type of Indian curry dish that originated from the city of Chennai formerly known as Madras. It is usually served with rice and rotis. Yellow curry is another name for Thai curry dishes. These curries are very similar but not exactly the same. Both are spicy and flavorful.

What can I use instead of curry paste?

Madras curry powder is a blend of spices used in Indian cuisine. It is usually used in curries, but can also be added to other dishes such as breads, soups, stews, and chutneys. Yellow curry powder is similar to Madras curry powder, however, it contains turmeric instead of coriander seeds.