Yellow Curry Paste
If you've got coriander seeds, ground turmeric and shallots, you're most of the way to this vegan: about 60 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, the ingredients are plant-based.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, shaking the pan, until fragrant, then grind them to a fine powder.
- Soak the dried red chillies in warm water for 10 minutes to soften, then drain and roughly chop, removing seeds for a milder paste if preferred.
- Trim the lemongrass to the tender lower stalks, peel off the tough outer layers, and finely slice the inner core.
- Add the ground spices, soaked chillies, lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, garlic, shallots and salt to a mortar or food processor.
- Pound or blend the mixture into a smooth, thick paste, scraping down the sides and adding a teaspoon of water at a time only if needed to keep it moving.
- Transfer the finished paste to a clean airtight jar; use immediately or refrigerate for up to two weeks, or freeze in small portions for longer storage.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Blender · Food processor
Ingredient substitutions
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
- Shallots
- ½ small onion + a little garlic
Tips & common questions
How long does Yellow Curry Paste take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of lemon?
Try lime. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Yellow Curry Paste vegan?
Based on its ingredients, this recipe contains no meat, fish, dairy or egg, so it looks vegan-friendly. Always double-check labels on packaged items.
Related recipes
Yellow Curry Paste is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Curry pastes Thailand.JPG by Helge Høifødt, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.