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Red Thai Salmon Curry with Green Beans

Red Thai salmon curry, the perfect quick and easy curry in a hurry, salty, sweet, sour and spicy all tempered with silky coconut cream.

When I say in a hurry, this dish will go from your fridge to the table in right around 20 minutes and tastes like you spent much longer on it!

Overhead red Thai salmon curry with green beans and jasmine rice.

Red Thai Fish Curry

This red Thai inspired salmon dish definitely falls into the curry in a hurry category! My timings say 20 minutes but in reality, once you are familiar with the recipe it is closer to 15.

Most importantly it packs much more flavour than that short cooking time would indicate.

Just like my similarly fishy Thai prawn curry, Thai red curry mussels, Thai green fish curry and choo chee curry recipes, I’ll not tell the folk you are feeding how easy they are if you don’t!

This features all of the hot, sour, sweet and salty flavours closely associated with Thai food and salmon it the perfect match for them.

Its bold oily flavour means that it sings through the sauce and is not just a texture.

I have a host of Thai inspired dishes, everything from my unusual Thai duck curry, Thai red beef curry to Thai beef salad.

Of course, I also have some of the well-known dishes like Thai chicken curry and beef massaman curry.

Whilst you are here, how about you plan an equally delicious Indian inspired salmon curry into your week?

Red Thai salmon curry with green beans and jasmine rice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make my own curry paste?

Yes, of course, I even have a Thai red curry paste for you to try!

What brand of Thai red curry paste do you recommend?

My two favourite brands for Thai red curry paste are Lobo and Maesri.

Can I use regular basil instead of Thai basil?

At a push, yes, but Thai basil will taste slightly different. I find that the best substitute for Thai basil is actually a mix of mint, specifically peppermint, and basil.

What can I use in place of lime leaves?

If you cannot get them, just omit them, they add a very subtle citrus edge to the dish. You can go some way to simulate them by adding extra lime juice.

Can I substitute fish sauce for soy sauce?

I would not, both add salt to the dish, but the fish sauce adds a great deal more than just salt. It adds a rich depth and an umami savoury edge to any dish it is used in.

However, doing so will certainly not spoil the dish, but make sure you use light soy sauce and not dark soy sauce.

Close up red Thai salmon curry with green beans and jasmine rice.

Serving Suggestions

I typically serve this Thai red fish curry recipe with some simple Jasmine rice. This is a quick dinner recipe and as a result, I like my sides to be equally quick!

But it does work exceptionally well with both my broccoli stir fry and asparagus stir fry recipes.

A great alternative rice idea would be this simple vegetable stir fried rice!

If you wanted to serve this with noodles, then these Thai inspired vegetable noodles would be great.

Red Thai salmon curry with green beans, Thai basil and jasmine rice.

Equipment Used

I only name-check brands of equipment if I think they make a material difference to a recipe. If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

  • Stovetop.
  • Wok, I use a large carbon steel wok.
  • Chopping board.
  • Kitchen knife.
  • Weighing scales and or measuring cups and spoons.
  • Prep bowls.
  • Fish slice.
  • Serving spoons.
Red Thai salmon curry with green beans, Thai basil and jasmine rice.
Yield: 2 Servings

Thai Red Salmon Curry Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Curries can occasionally be challenging to cook with ingredient lists as long as your arm... This salmon curry is not like that, it has a modest list of requirements and takes just 20 minutes to cook!

Ingredients

  • 250g (9oz) Skinless Salmon Fillets
  • 250ml (1 Cup) Coconut Cream
  • 175ml (¾ Cup) Fish Stock
  • 3 Tbsp Thai Red Curry Paste
  • 1 (35g) Shallot
  • 20g (⅓ Cup) Thai Basil
  • 4 Lime Leaves
  • 1 Red Birds Eye Chilli
  • 1-2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
  • 1-1½ Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1-2 Tbsp Lime Juice
  • 75g (½-¾ Cup) Fine Beans
  • 2 Tbsp Cooking Oil

Instructions

  1. Cut the shallot in half lengthways then peel it and slice it into half moon shapes 1-2mm thick.
  2. Pick the Thai basil leaves from the stem, then finely shred them, reserve some whole smaller leaves for garnish.
  3. Slice the chilli pepper into rings as thinly as you can.
  4. Tear the tough stems from the kaffir lime leaves and discard them, then finely shred the leaves.
  5. Heat a wok over high heat and when hot add the oil.
  6. Add the shallots, sliced chillies, lime leaves and Thai curry paste.
  7. Sit fry for 1-2 minutes mashing the paste as you go to cook out the spices.
  8. Pour in the fish stock and coconut cream and stir to form a nice smooth sauce.
  9. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then add the shredded Thai basil leaves, the lime juice, brown sugar and fish sauce, add the smallest amount listed first then add the rest to taste.
  10. Simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes.
  11. Add the fish fillets and spoon over the sauce and cook for 4-5 minutes, spooning over more sauce as the fish poaches every couple of minutes.
  12. Throw in the green beans and cook for 2 more minutes. I like my beans to still have a crunch, if you want them softer add them with the fish.
  13. Serve garnished with the reserved small Thai basil leaves.

Notes

I also like to add a little coriander oil made with a neutral oil to the final presentation to add both colour and a light coriander flavour.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 743Total Fat: 57gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 752mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 3gSugar: 12gProtein: 35g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Murray

Friday 13th of October 2023

Any thoughts on how you'd do this for larger group (8 adults)?

Stages or one big pot? Or Poach fish separately and then add to the curry last few minuteS?

Brian Jones

Saturday 14th of October 2023

Hey Murray

If I were to be cooking this for larger numbers I would probably look at using larger pots or pans, I reckon you could get away with four fillets in a 32-35cm (13-14") skillet or frying pan, if you have two of those then you can get your your 8 quite easily without making too any compromises.

You could poach the fish separately and make a large sauce, if you were to make a court bouillon kinda thing with loads of Thai flavours, you could easily poach 8 fillets in the oven and keep the flavours on point. You could even do a whole side of salmon poached in a Thai influenced court bouillon and then serve the red curry sauce on the side, and then rock some garlic and ginger green beans serve it all in the centre of the table with a big pot of rice and let folk help themselves.

I hope that gives you some options to take a run at.

Have fun, Brian :)

Sue R

Monday 4th of November 2019

Delish! Thank you. Husband loves a curry of any sort. I'd not done one with fish in it before.

Brian Jones

Tuesday 5th of November 2019

You are welcome, I love this dish, I treat it as a lazy day cheat dinner it is so easy :D

Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

Thursday 27th of September 2018

This has my mouth watering. Nothing beats a good fish curry and this looks incredible. I haven't had a fish curry for far too long, might have to pop this on the meal plan soon!

Brian Jones

Sunday 30th of September 2018

Enjoy.

Danielle

Thursday 27th of September 2018

I am just so in love with thai red curry - it's one of my favorite flavors! And I love that once you have the paste made, most recipes are pretty quick after that. This sounds delicious!

Brian Jones

Sunday 30th of September 2018

It is great a bit of work in advance and then a whole world of quick tasty grub.

Camilla Hawkins

Thursday 27th of September 2018

This looks so tasty, I love quick and easy salmon dishes, perfect for a mid-week meal!

Brian Jones

Sunday 30th of September 2018

Thanks Camilla

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