Red Thai curry with pumpkin and beef - Gäng Fak Thong Sai Nguea
Sep 17, 2023
Ingredients for 2–3 servings of red Thai curry with pumpkin
Preparing red curry is quick and easy, even for beginners to Thai cooking. You'll need a maximum of 30 minutes to prepare this delicious and authentic Thai dish.
Just follow our cooking instructions.
| Beef (thinly sliced) | 250g |
| Pumpkin (alternatively potato or sweet potato) | 250g |
| Coconut milk | 125 ml |
| Kaffir lime leaves | 3 |
| Thai chilies | 1 |
| Red curry paste | 1 tbsp (will be spicy) |
| vegetable oil | 1 1⁄2 tbsp |
| fish sauce | 2 tbsp |
| Water | 125 ml |
| Coconut sugar (alternatively brown sugar) | 1 tbsp |
| Thai basil | 5–6 leaves |
Preparation of the curry:
1. Cut the beef into thin strips and the pumpkin into bite-sized pieces. Have all other ingredients ready to hand.
2. Heat a wok or pan over medium heat until it's lightly smoking. Then add the coconut milk and cook, stirring constantly, until the milk begins to "oil up" and become a little creamier. You'll notice this by a light film of oil on the bottom of the pan. Here's our video on splitting coconut milk.
3. Now add the red curry paste to the milk and cook it with the coconut milk in the wok for about 1-2 minutes until you can smell the aromas of the paste.
4. Add the beef strips and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned on all sides and cooked to your desired doneness.
5. Now add the water and pumpkin pieces to the pot and bring to a gentle boil until the pumpkin is tender. This should take about 15-20 minutes on low heat.
6. Next, add the fish sauce and sugar and simmer for another 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
7. Taste the curry and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Add more fish sauce or sugar if desired. If you like it spicier, add the red chili rings.
8. Stir the kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil leaves into the curry and let it simmer for another minute. Serve the Thai pumpkin curry with beef hot with jasmine rice.
Did you know…?
Versatile ingredient : Pumpkin is very versatile in Thai cuisine, used not only in savory curries but also in desserts. A well-known dessert is "Sankaya Fak Thong," a steamed pumpkin with a coconut cream filling.
Health Benefits : Pumpkin is rich in vitamins and nutrients, especially vitamin A, which is good for the eyes. It also contains antioxidants that boost the immune system.
Pumpkin varieties : Several varieties of pumpkin are used in Thailand, including the fak thong (golden gourd) and the nam tao (bottle gourd). Each variety brings its own unique flavors and textures to the curry.
Traditional Dish : Thai red pumpkin curry is a traditional dish often served on special occasions and festivals. It symbolizes prosperity and abundance, as pumpkin is considered a symbol of wealth in Thailand.
Flavor combination : The combination of the sweet note of the pumpkin and the spicy red Thai curry paste creates a harmonious flavor experience that can be both mild and intense, depending on the amount of curry paste used.
Yak Thai wishes you all the best
Chonticha and Alex
