Thai Peanut Curry
Ingredients
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- 27 ounces coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 3 tablespoons red curry paste
- 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs – cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons palm sugar
- 4 leaves makrut lime leaves – thinly sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper – thinly sliced
- 1 chile Thai bird's eye chile – thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup Thai basil leaves – torn
- jasmine rice – cooked (for serving)
- roasted peanuts – chopped (for serving)
Instructions
1. Open the coconut milk without shaking; spoon off 0.5 cup of the thick cream and set both the reserved cream and the remaining milk aside.
2. Heat a wok or wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the neutral oil and the reserved cream, then stir in the red curry paste. Cook, stirring, until fragrant and the fat begins to split, 2–4 minutes.
3. Stir in the natural creamy peanut butter and cook 1 minute to combine.
4. Add the boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces, and cook, stirring, until opaque on the outside, 2–3 minutes.
5. Pour in the remaining milk and the water; bring to a gentle simmer.
6. Season with the fish sauce and palm sugar; add the makrut lime leaves. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce lightly thickens to coat a spoon, 8–12 minutes.
7. Stir in the red bell pepper and the Thai bird's eye chile (if using) and simmer until the vegetables are crisp-tender, 2–3 minutes.
8. Turn off the heat; stir in the fresh lime juice and half of the Thai basil leaves, reserving the rest for garnish. Taste and adjust seasoning to balance salty, sweet, and tart.
9. Serve over cooked jasmine rice and garnish with the reserved leaves and the roasted peanuts.
Thai Peanut Curry is a rich, aromatic coconut curry with a warm, nutty backbone. It blends the heat and perfume of red curry paste with the round, creamy depth of peanuts and the citrusy lift of makrut lime. The result is a sauce that clings lushly to tender pieces of chicken, with crisp vegetables and fresh herbs brightening every bite.
While not a single canonical category in Thailand, this dish echoes elements of Thai curries such as phanaeng (which traditionally incorporates ground peanuts into the paste) and, to a lesser extent, massaman (where peanuts are common). In many Western Thai restaurants and home kitchens, the idea evolved into a peanut-forward red curry finished with coconut milk, fish sauce, and palm sugar. It has become a widely loved bridge between classic Thai techniques and pantry-friendly cooking abroad.