Vegan Thai Red Sweet Potato, Broccoli and Chickpea Curry

Name: Vegan Thai Red Sweet Potato, Broccoli and Chickpea Curry
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 250 millilitre vegetable stock ([or replace with 1 tablespoon of oil such as coconut oil]); 150 grams carrot ([2 small-medium, diced]); 170 grams onion ([1 medium, diced]); 4 cloves garlic ([minced/fine diced]); 4 tablespoon red Thai curry paste; 1 can chopped tomatoes ([diced canned tomatoes, 400g or 14 oz can.]); 1 can chickpeas ([400g or 14 oz can, drained. Or 240g cooked.]); 330 grams sweet potatoes ([2-3 medium, chopped into bitesize chunks.]); 500 millilitres vegetable stock ([use extra if required]); 320 grams broccoli ([Chopped into florets and maybe chop each floret through the stalk as well if large.]); 65 grams peanut butter ([either smooth or crunchy]); 120 millilitres canned coconut milk; 150 grams spinach; 10 grams coriander ([chopped, use more or less as preferred]); 30 grams cashews ([rough chopped, or replace with peanuts or flaked almonds])

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This Vegan Thai Red Curry is packed with tasty Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, and Chickpeas cooked within a delicious creamy, nutty, sweet, savoury, spicy, warm, thick curry sauce that is just too irresistible that leftovers will likely not be an issue. Instead its always a good idea to batch prep a double lot of this red curry as leftovers are just too tasty and are perfect for next days lunch - simply scoop the leftovers over a slice of toasted bread. So tasty!

Red Thai curry cooked and in pan ready to be served with a silver ladle.

Vegan Thai Red Curry is the perfect meal to use up older veggies lurking in the refrigerator or reduced price vegetables sourced in the supermarket or store. Cooked in a delicious thick Thai curry sauce the vegetables will be the star of the show.

History of Thai red curry

Red Thai curry, known as "Kaeng Phet" in Thailand, and while grinding spices and herbs into pastes date back to ancient Thai or Siamese cooking, red Thai curries likely originate sometime during the 16th-17th century with the introduction of chili peppers from the Americas in the 16th century, brought by Portuguese traders. These chillies transformed Thai cuisine and led to the vibrant, spicy flavours we associate with it today, including those found in red Thai curry.

Throughout history Thai cooking has been heavily influenced by Indian cuisine. Thai red curry is traditionally made using a red curry paste, which consists of red chilli peppers, garlic, shallots or onions, turmeric, lemongrass, galangal, and other aromatic spices like coriander and cumin, all finely ground together. Also, shrimp paste is often added. The curry paste is authentically prepared by crushing all the ingredients within a pestle and mortar.

Over time, as trade routes expanded, Thai cooks began incorporating ingredients like coconut milk, brought from other parts of Southeast Asia, to add creaminess and a touch of sweetness to balance the heat from the chilli peppers.

One interesting fact about red Thai curry is that the paste's red colour traditionally comes from the use of dried long red spur chilies, which are milder than their smaller, spicier counterparts. However, the intensity of the spice can vary depending on how many chillies are used and whether their seeds are included. Some modern recipes include tomatoes for added colour and sweetness, although this is not technically traditional.

Moreover, each region in Thailand has its own version of a red curry, with variations in ingredients and levels of spiciness.

Red Thai curry is incredibly versatile and while it often features proteins like chicken, beef, or seafood, vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based versions are being even more common, especially using ingredients such as tofu or a variety of vegetables.

In Thailand, the red curry is usually served alongside jasmine rice or rice noodles, but adaptations around the world have included unconventional accompaniments such as flatbreads or even potato fries or chips.

Close up of Thai red curry with silver ladle to side.

Vegan Thai red curry

For our Thai-inspired red curry, I opted for Geo organic red Thai curry paste primarily because it's free from animal products. Additionally, it was readily available at my local grocery store. Living rurally on a Scottish island means many products aren't easily accessible, but fortunately, this particular paste was quite tasty. Curry pastes offer a convenient shortcut, but if you're interested in making an authentic Thai red curry paste from scratch, you can use the recipe over on eatingthaifood.com as a guide.

For the vegetables in this curry, we choose to feature a few of our favourites that always work well in a curry - broccoli, sweet potato, and carrot, all of which contribute delicious flavours. The texture of broccoli and sweet potato, when simmered in curry spices and coconut milk, is just so tasty.

Creamy chickpeas serve as the ideal pulse to complement this curry, while canned chopped tomatoes [diced canned tomatoes] add a rich body to the sauce. You might find the inclusion of peanut butter a bit unusual, but it actually enhances the dish tremendously. Even if you're not a fan of peanut butter, I highly recommend giving it a try in this curry sauce; it might just surprise you, as it did me!

However, if nut allergies are an issue replace the peanut butter with a sunflower seed butter or soybean butter.

Thai red curry served in bowl with wooden spoon to side, and wicker table mat.

How to prepare Vegan Red Thai Curry

Our vegan red Thai curry recipe is nice and easy so is perfect for beginner cooks and those new to vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based diets. It's also a wonderful curry to prepare for those meat-eaters in the family as you can challenge them to miss any meat! With the tasty flavours of a red curry and the delicious choice of veggies it will be hard for them to resist! This curry recipe is not one of our visitor favourites for no reason!

Vegetables sauteing with red Thai curry paste in skillet pan with wooden spoon.

Chickpeas and canned tomatoes added to pan.

First saute the carrot, onion, and garlic in vegetable broth, before stirring through the red Thai curry paste. [If you prefer to use oil 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil would be a good choice.]

Next add the sweet potatoes, chickpeas, more vegetable stock, and canned tomatoes.

Broccoli added to red Thai curry cooking in pan.

Peanut butter and coconut milk mixed together in small bowl with spoon.

Pop the broccoli in and bring to a gentle simmer.

Add a lid over the pan and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the lid, stir the veggies and cook for a further 10 minutes to soften up the sweet potatoes.

Meanwhile mix the peanut butter and canned coconut milk together in a small bowl.

Stir the peanut butter-coconut milk mixture through the curry and cook for a few more minutes.

Spinach stirred through the red Thai curry cooking in the pan.

Get the spinach ready and once the curry has cooked stir the leaves through the curry and they will wilt nicely in the heat.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Red Thai curry served with brown rice and a coriander garnish.

Enjoy with sides of rice or rice noodles, perhaps a flatbread or some crispy lentil crisp or Thai style crackers, and a sprinkle of fresh coriander [cilantro]. We like to enjoy this curry with brown rice as we like its nutty flavour and additional fiber!

Recipe notes and FAQ

Storing

Leftovers can be stored within the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or frozen for 2-3 months. Defrost completely before reheating.

Reheating

Add leftovers to a non-stick skillet or pan and bring to a gentle boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes or until piping hot. Stir through a little extra veggie stock, broth, canned coconut milk, or plant-based milk if required to loosen up the curry.

Is red Thai curry good for batch prep?

Absolutely, Thai curries are perfect for batch prepping as making curries ahead of time results in the curry becoming even more delicious. Portion up the curry and freeze for quick future meals.

Is vegan Thai red curry gluten-free?

This curry can be easily prepared as gluten-free if you ensure that your Thai red curry paste and vegetable stock is gluten-free.

What can I do with leftover curry?

Leftover curry can be repurposed in a variety of tasty ways. For example, we love topping a slice of toasted bread with a scoop of leftover reheated curry for next days lunch.

Leftover curry can also be used as a vegan grilled cheese toasted sandwich filling. Prepare the toasted cheese sandwich the usual way but add a few tablespoons of curry. My kids love these curry toasties for lunch, or you could even have them for dinner along with salad or potato fries.

Other ideas is to create curry filled tortilla wraps, or use as a filling for a quesadilla. Leftover curry is also a delicious baked potato filling or use the curry as a filling for baked bell peppers, zucchini [courgette] boats, or stuffed squash. Sprinkle some chopped nuts over such as cashews, flaked almonds, peanuts, or some breadcrumbs, to create a crispy topping.

Another nice idea is to create a curry potato pie, similar to a cottage pie, by topping the leftovers with mashed potato and baking until crisp and golden. If you only have small amounts of leftovers, use small ramekin or soufflé dishes to bake individual pies.

For a red Thai curry soup, simply thin down the leftovers with canned coconut milk, vegetable stock or broth, or plant-based milk such as almond or cashew, and reheat the leftovers and serve as a delicious soup.

Can I make any substitutions?

Yes, curry recipes are perfect for making substitutions as any vegetable or pulse will taste amazing in a curry. A few ideas:

1. Instead of sweet potatoes use white potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkin, summer squash, marrow, courgette.

2. Replace the chickpeas with any pulse such as cannellini beans, butterbeans, navy beans [haricot beans], kidney beans, borlotti beans, broad beans, soya beans, edamame beans, etc.

3. Replace the peanut butter with cashew or almond butter or omit the nut butter if necessary due to allergies, and perhaps go with sunflower seed butter or soybean butter.

4. Use kale or collard greens instead of spinach, but add these veggies earlier in the cooking as they usually need at least 10-15 minutes to cook in the curry.

5. The broccoli can be substituted for cauliflower, green beans, mange tout, sugar snap peas, flat beans, baby sweetcorn, or your favourite vegetable.

What pairs well with Thai red veggie curry?

The perfect accompaniment is basmati, Jasmine, or long-grain rice along with a tasty flatbread or a few lentil crisps or vegan Thai crackers. A few more ideas, include choosing couscous, quinoa, or rice noodles instead of rice, black rice, wild rice, potato chips, fries, or wedges, 3 Ingredient Flatbreads, naan breads, spring rolls, mango chutney, vegetable pickles or onion chutneys, cucumber salad, or papaya salad.

More vegan family curry recipes

My Scottish family absolutely love any and every type of curry as long as its packed with plant-based and vegan ingredients as then we know it will be delicious! Vegetables just taste so good cooked in warm spices and creamy or tomato-y curry sauces, absolutely no-one would ever miss the meat if they experienced delicious vegetables cooked perfectly in curry sauces. Just so good! For more curry recipes do have a look at our ever-growing Vegan Curry Recipe collection.

Want to make a Red Thai Curry using the slow cooker or crock pot?

Then do have a look at our Slow Cooker Red Thai Sweet Potato, Chickpea, and Broccoli Curry.

***please note: for US measurements click the 'US customary button' within the recipe and the measurements will switch to tablespoons, cups, and ounces.***

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