Thai Red Beef Curry

Thai Red Beef Curry - a simple delicious homemade curry with tender strips of beef, vegetables and a lighter creamy coconut sauce packed with Thai flavours. It is the perfect easy dinner when you want something full of flavour and ready in minutes.

Thai curries are always a favourite in our house. The combination of fragrant spices, creamy coconut and a little heat is just so delicious and works perfectly with beef and vegetables. While homemade curry paste is great when you have the time, using a good quality ready made paste makes this such an easy meal to throw together on busy evenings.

Variations and Substitutes

This Thai Red Beef Curry is really easy to adapt with different proteins and vegetables depending on what you have on hand.

• Swap the steak for chicken, prawns or tofu if you prefer.
• Add extra vegetables like broccoli, mangetout, baby corn, mushrooms or sugar snap peas.
• Use green or yellow Thai curry paste for a slightly different flavour and spice level.
• Full fat coconut milk can be used instead of light coconut milk for a richer, creamier sauce.
• Lime juice added at the end gives the curry a lovely fresh finish.
• Add some fresh red chilli slices if you like extra heat.
• Swap the zucchini for aubergine (eggplant) or green beans.
• A little peanut butter stirred into the sauce adds extra richness and a slight satay style flavour.

Side Suggestions

For most people, it has to be some fluffy jasmine rice alongside a curry. It is perfect for soaking up all that delicious creamy sauce and balancing the spices in the curry.

Whenever I cook jasmine or basmati rice, I always use the same simple method. Rinse the rice well until the water runs clear, then add 1 cup of rice to a saucepan with 2 cups of cold water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and place on the lid. Leave it alone without stirring until the water has absorbed, then turn off the heat and leave covered for about 10 minutes. The trapped steam finishes cooking the rice perfectly, then all you need to do is fluff with a fork before serving.

• Jasmine Rice - Light, fluffy jasmine rice is the classic choice and works perfectly with the rich coconut curry sauce.
• Basmati Rice - Another great option with a lovely fragrant flavour that pairs really well with Thai curries.
• Cauliflower Rice - Perfect if you want a lighter lower carb option. Roasted cauliflower rice works especially well as the roasting adds extra flavour.
• Noodles - Rice noodles or egg noodles are delicious if you want to switch things up from rice.
• Steamed Greens - Pak choi, broccoli or green beans all work really well alongside the curry.
• Cucumber Salad - Something cool and fresh on the side helps balance the warmth and spice of the curry.