Coconut Tofu Curry

This tofu curry recipe is a family favorite! Coconut milk and red curry paste spice up this quick and healthy dinner idea.

Here’s a dinner that only takes 30 minutes and packs so much flavor… you’ll be adding it to your regular meal plan in an instant. try that Tofu curry Recipe! The bright red broth is flavored with coconut milk and red curry paste, with lime zest and a hint of tangy sweetness. Thai-style flavors are the perfect way to introduce tofu to those who may be suspicious of it. And if you’re already a fan (like us!), you’ll appreciate this deliciously colorful way of serving. Here’s what you need to know!

What is a curry anyway?

The word “curry” is actually a Western invention to misdescribe the nuances of what colonizers observed in foreign cuisines (see Bon Appetit). Today the word is used to describe a dish with a spicy sauce and meat or vegetables, often eaten with rice or flatbread like naan. “Curry” is made in many countries, including India, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and England.

In this recipe, we honor the flavor traditions of a Thai-style red curry. After traveling to Southeast Asia and learning about the flavors of the region, we were amazed at how Southeast Asian curries capture a wide rainbow of flavors. Coconut milk, ginger, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, chili, sugar and lime are traditionally included in Thai and Cambodian curries. Together these flavors form a irresistible delicious broth! Although we have no Thai or Cambodian heritage, this tofu curry recipe honors some of the flavor combinations typical of recipes from this region.

Ingredients for this tofu curry recipe

This tofu curry recipe is inspired by a Southeast Asian red curry made with red curry paste and coconut milk. It’s also packed with veggies, which are typical of this type of curry: they have a big boost of nutrients, too. Here’s what you need:

• tofu: look for firm or extra firm for this recipe
• yellow onion
• Pepper: A medium-sized red bell pepper provides 169% of your daily vitamin C intake (source)
• Garlic
• Fresh green beans: You can find fresh long green beans in the bulk or packaged products section
• bamboo shoots: Look for them in the canned food section! They give a spicy note that is particularly tasty
• Red curry paste: The Flavor Maker! See below for more on this particular ingredient
• Brown Sugar, Soy Sauce, and Lime: these make the perfect sweet and spicy combination; Replace the tamari if desired
• coconut oil: Coconut oil adds a pleasant coconut scent; We generally use refined but unrefined products
• coconut milk: Use only whole or regular foods here for proper fullness and body
• Sambal Oelek: Adjust your heat level with this hot sauce

Learn more about red curry paste: what to look for and brands

Red curry paste is a pot paste that takes all the flavor of a Thai curry and concentrates it into a paste. It’s an acronym for western cuisines: in traditional Thai cuisine, you would make it with the real ingredients! Curry paste is made from chili peppers, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, kaffir lime leaves, cumin, coriander, etc. It brings an amazing taste and keeps for months in the fridge. This Coconut Tofu Curry is a red curry, so you’ll need red curry paste. A few notes about this ingredient:

• Depending on the brand, it ranges from mild to medium hot. We love Thai cooking curry paste because it’s very mild but packs a great flavor. But there are many great brands to try. Be sure to taste your curry paste before using it! If it’s very spicy, use less than the recipe says.
• Find it in most grocery stores near Thai produce. It keeps for months in the fridge and you can use it in many other recipes. You can also buy it online: Red curry paste from Thai cuisine.

Spice it up with sambal oelek or sriracha

The base of this tofu curry recipe is quite mild. If you love Thai food, you know it can be very sharp. We like the heat here, but more on a medium level. Since we’re also cooking for a 4-year-old, we usually keep our base curry recipe mild and then add hot sauce at the table. Here are some notes on the spiciness of this red tofu curry:

• Use hot sauce to taste! The 1 teaspoon hot sauce in this recipe adds a slight amount of heat. If you want mids, double it up. For very spicy, use as much as you like! As we mentioned earlier, it’s okay to do this in your bowl and not the whole pot: but that’s up to you.
• Hot sauces that work well here include:
  • Sambal Ölek, an Indonesian chilli sauce made from chili peppers, garlic, ginger and lime. It has a thick texture and little to no sugar.
  • Srirachaa creamy hot sauce from Thailand with chili peppers, vinegar, garlic and sugar
  • Garlic Chili Sauce, similar to Sriracha with a thicker texture, made with chilies and lots of garlic. It tastes slightly lighter than Sriracha and has more undertones.

What to Serve with Tofu Curry: Jasmine Rice and More

This tofu curry is a Thai-style red curry, so it’s more authentic to serve with rice. Don’t add naan: it’s for an Indian curry! Here is the best type of rice:

And that’s it! Let us know what you think of this Coconut Tofu Curry. It’s become a favorite here, and we hope you like it too!

Is tofu healthy?

Final point: let’s get one thing straight. There is a lot of misinformation surrounding tofu! But Eating tofu several times a week is part of a healthy diet. According to the Harvard School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-rich source of protein that’s safe to eat several times a week. It likely has health benefits, especially when consumed as an alternative to red meat and processed meats. To learn more, go to Straight Talk About Soy and Is Tofu Good For You?

More great tofu recipes

We used to avoid tofu, but now it’s one of our favorites for quick and easy plant-based meals! This tofu curry recipe is a complete plant-based dinner that’s packed with tremendous flavor and tons of nutrients. Here are some of our other favorite ways to eat tofu:

This tofu curry recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free