Thai Fish Curry - Healthy Eating and Good Food Habits

This quick Thai Fish Curry is ready in 20 min and loaded with fish and veggies. It’s also dairy-free and gluten-free.

Thai fish curry is one of those quick meals you can whip up in no time, without planning ahead.

When I don’t feel like spending too much time cooking this is one of my go-to dinner recipes.

It comes together all in one pot, and it’s incredibly simple to prepare.

I can’t claim this 20-minute Thai red fish curry is super traditional, but it’s an easier and quicker version of traditional Thai curry.

It’s also naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free.

It’s totally freezer-friendly and easy to customize with your favorite fish, seafood, and vegetables.

Jump to:

Thai Red Fish Curry in cast iron skillet, next to a white cloth with fresh ginger root, cilantro, red chili peppers and halved limes.

INGREDIENT TIPS

When it comes to this easy Thai red curry, versatility is one of the things I love more about.

You can use pretty much any fish fillet and seafood you have at hand.

For this Thai fish curry recipe, I used:

mussels
scallops
trout fillets
hake fillets

mussels and fish fillets on wood board with parsley and lemon, plate with scallops on white cloth on the side

Alternatively, you can use your favourite fish and seafood.

Here are some other great fish options:

salmon fillets
halibut fillets
red snapper
cod fillets
mackarel fillets
king prawns

The same goes for vegetables, you can use anything you like.

Here are my go-to Thai curry vegetables:

bell pepper
snow peas
pak choi
white onion
carrot

Together with the fish and veggies, you will need to add some Thai curry staples.

I use the following ingredients to bring my curry to life:

Thai red curry paste
coconut milk
lemongrass
coriander
lime

You can also add some fresh kaffir lime leaves and galangal if you have them on hand.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAI RED CURRY AND THAI GREEN CURRY

The red curry is the absolute star of this dish, obviously.

Many readers ask me on a regular basis which curry is best to use when it comes to Thai curry.

The main difference between Thai red curry and green curry paste is the color and the chilies used.

Red curry is made from dried red chilies. Green curry instead, gets its signature colour from fresh green chilies, to enhance the flavour, basil, coriander, and lime leaves are also added.

Red curry is less spicy than green curry, so it’s the best choice if you don’t like super spicy stuff.

This recipe calls for red curry paste, but you can use green curry paste if you like.

For the curry paste, you can, of course, make your own, as I often do.

If you’re in a hurry, just buy a good quality Thai red curry paste from your local Asian store, or from the international aisle of a big supermarket.

HOW TO MAKE THAI FISH CURRY

Once you have all your ingredients ready, this one-pot Thai red fish curry comes together in just 20 minutes and 3 simple steps:

Step 1 – Stir-fry the veggies

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, add in the vegetables and stir-fry them for about 4 minutes.

Step 2 – Add in the curry paste

Add the curry paste and sugar, and stir-fry for a further 2 minutes.

Step 3 – Add the fish

Add the fish and seafood, coconut milk, and aromatics. Cook all ingredients for a few minutes.

Turn the heat off, drizzle with lime juice, sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve with steamed rice.

Thai Red Fish Curry in cast iron skillet, next to fresh cilantro, red chili peppers and halved limes, a small bowl with rice and black chopsticks.

In less than 30 min you’ll have a vibrant meal that’s light, loaded with veggies, and packed with good fish protein.

Served with Jasmine rice or basmati rice on the side, this Thai red fish curry makes a nourishing balanced meal, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

HOW TO STORE THAI CURRY

Transfer leftover curry into an air-tight container.

Store in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Defrost the curry and reheat it gently in a large skillet.

MORE ASIAN-STYLE RECIPES YOU NEED TO TRY

If you love Asian cuisine as much as I do, check out these other vibrant recipes:

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook!

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📖 RECIPE

Thai Red Fish Curry in cast iron skillet, next to a white cloth with fresh ginger root, cilantro, red chili peppers and halved limes, and a small bowl of rice.

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4.74 from 23 votes

This quick Thai Fish Curry is ready in 20 min and loaded with fish and veggies. It’s also dairy-free and gluten-free.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Main

Cuisine: thai

Serving: 4

Calories: 549kcal

Author: Andrea Soranidis – The Petite Cook

Ingredients

2 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 red chili pepper
½ onion
½ red bell pepper
1 carrot
1 pak choi, halved
60 g snow peas
2-½ tablespoon Thai red curry paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
200 g fresh hake fillet
1 medium trout fillet
5 fresh scallops
100 g fresh mussels, cleaned
1 can coconut milk
1 tablespoon fish sauce
½ lemongrass
½ lime
handful fresh coriander, chopped
Jasmine rice, steamed, to serve

Instructions

Finely slice the onion and carrot. Remove seeds and white filaments from the bell pepper and finely slice.
Remove skin from both the hake and trout, cut into chunks and set aside. Also remove the coral from the scallops and set them aside.
Heat a large wok or cast iron skillet with the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the garlic, ginger, whole chilli pepper, onion, bell pepper, carrot, pak choi and snow peas, and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
Add in the Thai red curry paste and sugar and cook for another minute.
Move the vegetables over the sides of the wok, and add into the center the hake and trout fillets, followed by the scallops and mussels, and stir-fry for 1 minute.
Pour in the coconut milk and fish sauce, and add in the lemongrass. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove the lemongrass and whole chilli pepper. If it’s too thick, add a splash of water, and adjust seasoning to taste.
Remove from the heat, squeeze half lime over the curry, and sprinkle with fresh coriander on top.
Serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice on the side.

Notes

Other fish & seafood options:

white fish such as cod, pollock, red snapper, mackarel
salmon or wild salmon
king prawns
clams

Nutrition

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.