Which Thai Curry Paste Is the Best for Cooking?

TL;DR

The best Thai curry paste brands identified in the taste test are Mae Ploy, Namjai, and Aroy-D, with Mae Ploy being the top choice despite containing shrimp paste. Thai Kitchen ranked the lowest due to its weak and diluted flavor. When using store-bought curry paste, be prepared to adjust the seasoning to match your desired flavor profile.

Transcript

Sawaddee Ka, welcome to hot Thai Kitchen  Thai curry is popular all over the world so much   so that my most popular video is my green curry  video and the question that I get asked a lot is   what is the best brand of Thai curry paste because  let's face it most of us are not gonna make it   from scratch Thai people included and my answer  usually... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌶️ Thai curry paste is popular globally, prompting the question of the best brand. A blind taste test was conducted using five commonly available brands of red curry paste.
• 🌾 The chosen brands had a good reputation, long-standing presence in the market, and a natural ingredient list without any additives.
• 🦐 Mae Ploy was the go-to brand, but it contains shrimp paste and may not be suitable for vegetarians.
• 🥥 Aroy-D and Namjai were also top picks with good flavor profiles and versatility. Aroy-D is a milder option, while Namjai is similar to Mae Ploy.
• 🔍 Thai Kitchen, commonly found in non-Asian stores, performed poorly in the taste test, being weak and dilute.
• 🍳 Adjustments may be needed when using store-bought curry paste to achieve desired flavor profiles.
• 🍛 Making a complete curry using the top and bottom picks confirmed the differences in flavor and intensity.
• 💡 There is a significant range in flavor and quality among different brands of red curry paste, emphasizing the importance of tasting and adjusting seasoning when cooking.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The host conducts a blind taste test of five popular brands of red curry paste.

• She ranks the brands based on flavor, spice level, and overall satisfaction.

• She concludes that Mae Ploy, Namjai, and Aroy-D are the top three brands to choose, but adjustments may be needed if using other brands.