Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (2025)

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·4.9 from 52 reviews

Do you ever have those days where you wake up and think, “I would do anything right now, to be on asunny island in Thailand,with a big, spicybowl of curry in front of my face”?

Because I do.

And today was one of those days.

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (1)

Inconveniently, though, I’m over here in California. And no matter how much I want it to be, going to Thailand just isn’t on theagenda today.

So instead of pouting, I’ve decided to bring Thailand to me.

Today, I’m cooking up a big ol’ pot of Thailand,in the form ofsome creamy yellow curry, packed with tender chicken, potatoes, carrots, and onions.

I know I can hardly wait to share myThai yellow curry recipe with you. So let me ask you one thing.

Are you ready for this?!

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (2)

ThisThai yellow curryrecipe couldn’t be easier to make, and it couldn’t be more satisfying either.

It’s one spicy, creamy, flavorfultrip to Thailand, packed into one bowl. And it’s healthy, too!

Serve thiscurryover some rice, and garnish with a pinch of cilantro, and you’ll transport yourself to a faraway land — the Land of Smiles — where the sun is hot, the curry is even hotter, the Asian elephants roam, andthe beaches are nothing short of screensaver material.

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (3)

Which curry paste should you use?

To make this Thai yellow curry recipe properly and authentically, you need one very important ingredient:Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Paste.

If you search high and low, you might be able to find yellow curry paste at the grocery store. But if you want your curry to taste just like the curry you’ve had in Thailand – or at your favorite Thai restaurant – you need this curry paste, which is imported straight from Bangkok. Most of the pastes you’ll find in the grocery stores and Asian markets just don’t cut it.

Trust me on this one.

Note: If you can get your hands on the Mae Anong Curry Paste (it’s often sold out), then get it… and stock up! It’s the best. If you can’t, then a very close second best is the Mae Ploy Yellow Curry Paste. Truly though, both are great.

Get your authentic Thai curry paste on Amazon:

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (4)

The hardest part about this Thai yellow curry recipe is simply waiting for the mailman to deliver your beautiful parcel of curry paste.

Once you have it, all you need to do is thinly slice your chicken, chop up your vegetables, and let the curry paste work its magic.

And of course, you can’t forget to throw in some of that thick and luscious coconut milk. Mmmmm. Yes, please.

Which coconut milk should you use?

Just like choosing the right curry paste, it’s important to get high-quality coconut milk.

The quality of coconut milk brands varies widely. When you’re shopping, look at the ingredients list to find the product with the highest coconut solids to water ratio, ideally with no extra additives. You may need to trial and error a few different brands to find the one you prefer. Low-quality coconut milk will result in a more “soupy” or “runny” curry.

Traditionally, Thai curries are not supposed to be extremely thick. If you prefer a thicker curry, you can simply substitute coconut milk for coconut cream. And again, the same rules apply. Check the ingredients list; see if you can find a can of 100% coconut kernel extract, with no extra water, thickeners, or other additives listed on the label.

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (5)

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken

A staycation never looked so good. Am I right?

Seriously, this stuff is the real deal.

Making this Thai yellow curry recipe is like taking a trip to Thailand, but without the jet lag and the expensive plane ticket. It’screamy, spicy, and healthy, and it’s everything you’ve been needing in your life.

And if you don’t have all the ingredients, don’t worry! This recipe is very versatile, so you can add in whatever vegetables and proteins you have on hand.

This Thai yellow curry isauthentic and absolutely delicious. And now that you’ve seen this post, you know you want to make it! So what are you waiting for?!

Get your authentic Thai curry paste on Amazon:

Print

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

4.9 from 52 reviews

Craving some authentic Thai yellow curry? Don’t have the time to take an island vacation? Well, this simple, spicy, and delicious recipe will take your tastebuds on a journey to Thailand, and you don’t even have to leave your own kitchen.

  • Author: Maddy’s Avenue
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 people 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tbsp virgin coconut oil
  • 4 tbsp yellow curry paste
  • 2 15-ounce cans of coconut milk (high quality, see notes)
  • 1 or 2 cups chicken stock
  • 4 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/8” rounds
  • 4 medium-size potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced into wedges, then halved
  • 2 chicken breasts, very thinly sliced
  • 1.5 tsp fish sauce, plus more to taste
  • 3/4 tsp salt, plus more to taste
  • 1.5 tsp sugar, plus more to taste
  • cilantro, for garnish
  • lime wedges, for garnish
  • serve with jasmine rice

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, heat the coconut oil over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the curry paste to the oil, and stir-fry until fragrant, about two minutes. Take care to scrape any bits that stick to the bottom of the pot with your spoon.
  3. Spoon in the coconut solids from the top of the can first, and allow it to fry with the paste for a minute. Stir in the rest of the coconut milk (or coconut cream) and 1 cup of chicken stock. If you would like the curry to be thinner/soupier, then you can add 1 more cup of stock. Bring to a low boil, then turn the stove down to a simmer.
  4. Stir in the potatoes. When the potatoes are about halfway cooked through, stir in the carrots and onions.
  5. Once the carrots are almost fork-tender, add in the thinly sliced chicken and cook for two or three minutes, until the chicken is just cooked through and tender. Pay attention not to overcook the chicken, this process doesn’t take long.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fish sauce, salt, and sugar, adjusting each to suit your tastes.
  7. Serve the curry in bowls, over jasmine rice. Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges.

Notes

  • The quality of coconut milk brands varies widely. When you’re shopping, look at the ingredients list to find the product with the highest coconut solids to water ratio, ideally with no extra additives. You may need to trial and error a few different brands to find the one you prefer. Low-quality coconut milk will result in a more “soupy” or “runny” curry.
  • Traditional Thai curries should be on the soupier side, but not too thin either. If you prefer a thicker curry, substitute one or two cans of coconut milk for coconut cream. And again, the same rules apply. Look at the ingredients list. See if you can find cans of 100% coconut kernel extract, with no extra water, thickeners, or other additives listed on the label.
  • If your curry still ends up “soupy” or “runny,” you can thicken it with a slurry of corn starch and water.
  • Make sure to purchase this yellow curry paste from Amazon. While you might be able to find other yellow curry pastes at the grocery store, none of them are as authentic as this one, which comes straight from Thailand!
  • If you don’t have virgin coconut oil, you can also use vegetable oil.
  • You can make this recipe vegetarian/vegan by simply omitting the chicken and fish sauce. Use soy sauce or vegan fish sauce instead, to taste.
  • We used a mandoline to cut all of the carrots equally and to give them the fun, ridged texture you’d see in a restaurant.

Did you try making our Thai yellow curry recipe? Let us know how it went by commenting below and tagging @maddysavenue or #maddysavenue on Instagram!

Authentic Thai Yellow Curry Recipe with Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (2025)

FAQs

What is the secret to authentic curry? ›

Tips for the Perfect Curry
  1. Use fresh spices. For the best results, always try to use fresh spices. ...
  2. Give the spices a toast. ...
  3. Wrap up your whole spices. ...
  4. Blitz your tomatoes. ...
  5. Onions are the key. ...
  6. Don't overcook your chicken. ...
  7. Keep your garlic and ginger fresh. ...
  8. Add exciting toppings.

What is the secret to Thai curry? ›

The secret to making amazing Thai curries is to use plenty of aromatics, like onion, ginger and garlic. Choose full-fat coconut milk for its richness (you won't regret it!). Stirring in just a little bit of rice vinegar and sugar adds tons of complexity.

When to add potatoes to curry? ›

It turns out very yummy and adds a fantastic texture to the curry. I would highly recommend trying this out. The stage to add potato in the cooking is after frying onions. You can also fry potato before and keep it aside and use when you put chicken in the bhuna masala.

Is Thai yellow curry healthy? ›

Is Yellow Curry Healthy? Digging into a bowl of Thai Yellow Curry isn't just a treat for your taste buds; it's also packed with ingredients that are good for your health, including: Turmeric – Not only does it give the curry its signature color but is also known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

How do you make curry taste more authentic? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

What is the most important ingredient in curry? ›

Turmeric is arguably the most important ingredient in British curry. Likewise, curry is one of the most popular dishes in Britain. Popular United Kingdom Curry: Chicken Tikka Masala.

How do Thai restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

Often, Thai curries are made using coconut milk as the main liquid, which results in a creamy consistency. You can use as much or as little coconut milk as you wish based on your preference for texture, spice, and flavor.

What thickens a Thai curry? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

What is the main spice in Thai curry? ›

While ground turmeric is the main ingredient in Indian and Thai yellow curry powder, curry powders are a blend of several spices.

Is it better to cook chicken before or after curry? ›

In this recipe, you do not cook the chicken first. You make the curry in your skillet and once the curry is ready, you add the chicken and cook it in the curry. Then you add the heavy cream to make it rich and creamy.

Does curry get better the longer it cooks? ›

Let it cook for as long as possible. Simmering a curry allows time for the flavours to infuse; a long, slow simmering time generally produces the best curry. Flavours will continue to infuse even when the curry is taken off the heat, so do allow time for the curry to “rest” and cool down before serving.

Is it better to cook curry on high or low heat? ›

Depending on how hot it gets, it may burn, and the flavour of its ingredients might be lost. The best way to cook curries is to use low to medium heat and avoid rushing while adding the Indian curry spices to the pot.

Which Thai curry is healthiest? ›

Green curry is great with chicken and shrimp because it offers a punch of seasoning to the protein. The long list of herbs also makes green curry one of the healthiest Thai cuisine dishes.

Is Thai curry junk food? ›

For one, Thai meals often feature a good balance of macronutrients — protein, fats, and carbs. Curries, stir-fries, and soups are made with a variety of vegetables, include a protein source like tofu, lean meat, or seafood, and contain coconut milk, peanut sauces, or other fat.

Is yellow curry anti-inflammatory? ›

Turmeric, one of the main spices in the blend, contains a pigment called curcumin. Curcumin is well known for its ability to fight inflammation by regulating inflammatory proteins, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) ( 2 , 3 ).

What is the secret ingredient in curry? ›

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

What is the secret of Indian curry? ›

Build a deep flavour

The three core ingredients of almost any Indian curry are garlic, onion and ginger. There are a few styles of curries that don't use garlic to ensure subtle flavour isn't overwhelmed, but it's a good rule of thumb that those three ingredients are likely to be included.

What makes Indian curry taste authentic? ›

Type of spices: Curry dishes are made with various of spices and the spices can range from mild to stronger and spicy. South Indian curries use dry red chilies, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and curry leaves. North Indian curries use coriander leaves, cumin, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, and dried fenugreek leaves.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

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