Substitutes for Red Curry Paste: 10 Best Alternatives!

Many Asian recipes use red curry paste as the main ingredient. This paste is commonly used in Thai cuisine, but you can also use it in various other recipes.

Red curry paste is available at local markets or made at home. If you don’t have this ingredient in your kitchen, there are various substitutes you may use to make your meal taste great.

You can always use regular curry paste or green curry paste as a quick alternative for red curry paste. Continue reading to discover even more red curry paste alternatives!

Substitutes for red curry

The alternatives listed below can successfully replace red curry paste in any recipe; however, keep in mind that your food will taste slightly different as a result.

No. 1 Paste of curry

If you want to make a red curry paste substitution, curry paste is the most acceptable option. It will not impart the strong flavor of red curry paste, nor will it give your food a crimson coloring, but it will still produce a delightful result. Plus, it’s inexpensive and readily available in most grocery shops’ seasoning sections.

Curry paste is commonly used in Indian recipes, but you can also use it in stir-fries, stews, and marinades. You can successfully substitute one tablespoon of curry paste for one tablespoon of red curry paste in your recipe.

No. 2 Green curry paste

Another effective red curry paste option is the green curry paste. They have similar names since they are both curry paste constituents, as you may have noticed. The critical distinction is that one is made with red peppers while the other is made with green peppers.

The flavor of green curry paste is milder than red curry paste, and it has a green tint that will make your dish stand out.

You can use the exact proportions and prepare your dish in the same manner.

No. 3 Powdered chili

Chili is a popular ingredient in both chili powder and red curry paste. It will give your cuisine the desired spiciness, but not all of the other tastes found in red curry paste.

You can substitute a quarter or tablespoon of chili powder for one tablespoon of red curry powder in your recipe. Because of its red color, chili powder will tint your food somewhat crimson. It is vital, though, to use only a pinch of it.

You don’t want to use too much chili powder because it’s a lot spicier. It’s also a personal choice.

No. 4 A paste of chili

Chili paste is spicy in the same way chili powder is but in paste form. If you don’t want your cuisine to be too spicy, you can choose chili paste with a milder flavor. It will give your food a red hue and a delicious flavor. If you use red curry paste, you won’t get the same flavor. It is, however, spicier than red curry paste, so use it with caution.

Chili paste can be used in sauces, toppings, marinades, soups, and stews, among other applications.

No. 5 Chili flakes and tomato paste

Tomato paste and chili flakes are a terrific combination for flavoring various foods. To make a homogenous paste, combine half a tablespoon of chili flakes with 3-4 tablespoons of tomato paste and stir well. You can add as much chili as you want to this mixture, but keep in mind that the flavor will differ from the red curry paste. Use this paste to season a variety of soups, stews, sauces, and pasta dishes.

No. 6 Chili paste with turmeric

Turmeric is used in red curry paste and other forms of curry. As a result, if you have turmeric and chili paste on hand, you can combine them and use the resulting mixture instead of red curry paste. Combine two tablespoons of turmeric with a quarter tablespoon of chili paste, plus a splash of water if you want your mixture to be more liquid. Use the same amount of this mixture as red curry paste in all of your recipes.

No. 7 Paste of yellow curry

Curry paste prepared with yellow peppers is known as yellow curry paste. Although it is not as spicy as red curry paste, it can be used as a substitute. You can use it in the exact quantities and for the same types of recipes as red curry paste.

You can add a spoonful of tomato paste to get the crimson color that red curry paste gives your food. Add a pinch of chili flakes to your dish if you want it to be spicier.

No. 8 Chili and garlic sauce

Instead of red curry paste, garlic and chili sauce or chili paste is a terrific combo to use in your recipes. All you have to do is combine garlic powder, chili paste, or chili sauce with ground garlic. You can combine these two items in equal parts in terms of proportions. Alternatively, you might increase the amount of the desired ingredient. It’s important to note that this is not the same as red curry paste. As a result, you’ll need to use less of it because the chili will make your food spicier.

Half a spoonful of this mixture will suffice if your recipe calls for one tablespoon of red curry paste. Also, taste your meal as you cook it so you may adjust the flavor to your preferences.

No. 9 Tomato paste with garlic

You can get fantastic spice for all kinds of recipes by mixing two tablespoons of tomato paste with half a tablespoon of ground garlic. Instead of red curry paste, you can use this mixture in stews, stir-fries, sauces, and pasta. The tomato paste’s crimson color will give your cuisine the same red tint as curry paste. You can use as much as you like, depending on your preferences.

No. 10 Curry powder

Curry powder is widely used in Indian cuisine. It is not as spicy as red curry paste, but it will give your food the curry flavor you desire. It can also be used as a component in various sauces and toppings.

If you want to add more flavor to your dish, you may always use different spices instead of curry powder. In terms of quantity, use the same amount of curry powder as red curry and a tablespoon of tomato paste if you want your meal to be red.

Recipe for homemade red curry paste

If you don’t have red curry paste on hand, you might be able to make it with the items you already have. You’ll be surprised at how simple it is to make this dish from scratch.

When it comes to red curry paste, there is no established recipe. You can blend the components in any proportions you choose based on your particular preferences.

To prepare this paste traditionally, you must use all ingredients in equal amounts. Mix them till they have a uniform texture, then use them in your recipes as needed.

FAQs

What are the ingredients in red curry paste?

Red curry paste is made from a unique combination of ingredients to give your food

the flavor you desire. Garlic, ginger paste, salt, red chili peppers, turmeric, lemongrass paste, onions, shrimp paste, chili powder, tomato paste, black pepper, sugar, and lime juice are all necessary ingredients. You can prepare a great red curry paste even if you don’t have all of these items. You can, for example, substitute lemon juice for lime juice and black pepper for white pepper.

Is it possible to use Tom Yum paste instead of red curry paste?

While you shouldn’t use Tom Yum in place of red curry paste, it works well the other way around. Although Tom Yum contains fish sauce, you can replace it with the same red curry paste. The flavor will be different because the Tom Yum paste contains fish sauce, which is vital. Without the Tom Yum, your final dish will be as excellent as it gets.

Conclusion

As you can see, you can substitute red curry paste with various ingredients that you may already have on hand. You can also create it from scratch at home, which is a considerable advantage, and once you see how simple and convenient it is to make, you may never need to repurchase it!