This shrimp curry is plump shrimp and colorful vegetables, all simmered together in a coconut red curry sauce. A homemade version of the restaurant favorite that’s quick to make with the perfect blend of flavors!
When I go to my local Thai restaurant, I always order a variety of dishes including peanut chicken, fried rice and shrimp curry. I’ve learned to make my own curry at home, and I think it’s even better than what you’d get when eating out.
This coconut shrimp curry has become a weeknight staple in my house. It contains ingredients that I typically have in my pantry, and is a great way to use up any odds and ends of leftover veggies that you have on hand. Add a side of rice and you’ll have an easy dinner that everyone will love.
How do you make shrimp curry?
This recipe starts vegetables, which are cooked until tender. Add coconut milk, curry paste and shrimp the pan. Bring everything to a simmer, and cook until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Stir in seasonings and fresh herbs, then serve and enjoy.
HOW TO PEEL SHRIMP
This recipe calls for raw shrimp. Fresh or thawed from frozen shrimp will both work just fine. You can sometimes buy your shrimp already peeled. If the shrimp come with the shells on, you’ll need to remove them yourself. To peel shrimp, it’s easiest to start at the bottom where the legs are attached and carefully pull off the shell. You can leave the tail end of the shrimp on if you prefer for a more elegant presentation. Just be sure to remove those tail shells before eating.
You’ll also need to devein your shrimp, which you can do by running a small paring knife down the back of each shrimp and removing the dark vein.
Tips for the perfect shrimp curry
- I use store bought jarred red curry paste instead of making my own. It has plenty of great flavor, and saves a ton of time.
- You can use any size shrimp you like in this recipe. I often use a medium sized shrimp such as a 31-40 count per pound.
- Be sure to use full fat coconut milk in this dish. Light coconut milk will make the end product watery and not as flavorful.
- Start steaming your rice at the same time as you begin the curry, that way everything will be done at the same time.
- Don’t skip the brown sugar, it really balances out the flavors in the dish.
- Store any leftover curry in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- I don’t recommend freezing this dish, as the sauce can curdle and separate when thawed.
What do you serve with curry?
Steamed white rice is the most common accompaniment to shrimp curry. That being said, there are plenty of other options such as brown rice, rice noodles, coconut rice, egg noodles or quinoa.
Flavor variations
This recipe is delicious as is, but you can add other ingredients to the mix to customize it to your tastes.
- Protein: Swap out the shrimp for tofu cubes, chicken or sliced flank steak. You can even make it a seafood curry by adding chunks of fish, clams and mussels.
- Curry: Instead of red curry paste, use green curry paste for a spicier dish, or yellow curry powder for a milder flavor.
- Vegetables: I recommend using carrots, bell peppers, baby corn and bamboo shoots as those are the vegetables that my local restaurant uses. That being said, you can really use any variety of vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, celery, spinach or butternut squash.
- Herbs: Try thinly sliced lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves or cilantro instead of basil.
Once you try this shrimp curry, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis. It’s just that good!
More shrimp recipes to try
Shrimp Curry Video
Shrimp Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup onion thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger minced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded, cored and cut into strips
- 1 green bell pepper seeded, cored and cut into strips
- 2 carrots peeled and thinly sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 1 pound medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- 14 ounce can coconut milk full fat
- 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1/2 cup bamboo shoots thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup canned baby corn cut in half lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves Thai basil if available
- steamed rice for serving
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
- Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened.
- Add the carrots and red and green bell peppers to the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds.
- Season the vegetables with salt and pepper to taste. Add the curry paste to the pan and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the shrimp to the pan and cook for 2 minutes.
- Pour the coconut milk into the pan. Add the brown sugar and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the bamboo shoots and baby corn to the pan and cook for 4 minutes or until shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the soy sauce, lime juice and basil leaves. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately over steamed rice.
Natalie says
This is the most flavorful shrimp!! The spices give the shrimp so much taste! It will be hard to eat shrimp without these flavors!
Beth says
This shrimp curry has got to be mine and my daughter’s favorite dish! So delicious and very flavorful! Such a great and easy recipe to make!
Valentina says
This homemade shrimp curry recipe is so easy to make and loaded with flavors! The ultimate seafood dinner.
Ginny says
Wow! This was amazing! The flavors were right on and I loved all of the different textures of the veggies.
Beth says
Oh my goodness! This looks amazing and packed with so much flavor! I’m so excited to make this for my daughter and I. Sounds so delicious and tasty!
Andrea Thueson says
This shrimp curry had so much flavor. My family loved it!
Biana says
This shrimp curry looks so flavorful! No need for takeout, when you can make such amazing seafood dish.
Chenée says
So excited to try this! I never thought I could make my own shrimp curry at home so easily!
maryanne says
I made this for dinner last night and it disappeared so quickly! So flavorful!!
Joni says
A perfect family dinner. I’d love to try it with tofu.