Massaman Vegetable Curry

My massaman vegetable curry is rich, creamy, sweet-sour, and packed with colorful veggies. Made in one pot, ready in under 40 minutes, completely vegan.

This express version of Thai massaman vegetable curry is a one-pot weeknight savior. A heap of fresh vegetables, plus a handful of fridge door staples and coconut milk, and you’ve got a rich, nourishing, intoxicatingly fragrant meal in under 40 minutes. Read on for the history of this recipe, as well as cooking tips and substitution ideas.

What is Massaman Curry

Massaman curry is a classic Thai dish characterized by its rich coconut-peanut broth flavored with middle eastern spices. It’s a Thai-Muslim fusion recipe, which explains the presence of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom not typically found in Thai food. (According to Wikipedia, the name “massaman” is taken from the term “mosalman”, an archaic Persian word meaning “Muslim”.) This curry is typically made with meat and potatoes, and the coconut broth features peanuts, palm sugar, and massaman curry paste (made of red chilis + spices).

A Vegetarian Take on a Classic

My take on massaman curry is heavily adapted from the original to be cooked as quickly as possible using basic American supermarket ingredients.

For starters, instead of massaman paste, I use red curry paste, which you can get in most stores these days. I use a bit of ground cinnamon to give it that signature massaman warmth. Instead of palm sugar, I use raw sugar, and instead of toasting whole peanuts, I incorporate peanut butter into the broth. All of this to say, this version is not at all authentic, but rather inspired by the flavors of the original.

Ingredient Notes + Substitutions

• Coconut oil: I love to amplify that coconutty flavor when making Thai-inspired dishes. But, you can use any oil you have here.
• Onion: The sweetness of red onion is ideal for massaman curry. If you only have white/yellow onions, that’s okay too.
• Red curry paste: You can get this condiment in most supermarkets; look for it in the Asian or international foods aisle. If you can get your hands on massaman curry paste, use it!
• Coconut milk: Use canned coconut milk – not the diluted version sold in cartons in the refrigerated section. Look for it in the Asian or international foods aisle, and be sure to buy an unsweetened, full-fat version (i.e. not “lite”).
• Sugar: It may seem out of place, but it’s key for balancing out the tanginess of lime. Go for raw or light brown sugar here, or even maple syrup.
• Potato: The creamy, waxy texture of a white or Yukon Gold potato is perfect for this dish.
• Broccoli: Definitely not traditional in massaman curry, but I love to add greens to everything I can!

Massaman Vegetable Curry Step-by-Step

Make the Base: Start by chopping up and cooking a red onion and bell pepper until they’re browned; this caramelization is key to flavoring the curry overall. Next, stir in the curry paste and cook it for about a minute. Then incorporate the peanut butter.

Create the Broth: When the base is ready, add the coconut milk, soy sauce, sugar, cinnamon, and a chopped potato. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes can be pierced easily with a knife, about 15 minutes.

Finish the Curry: Add the broccoli and cook it just for a few minutes until it’s bright green. Yes, this really only takes 2 to 3 minutes. Do not cook your broccoli to death – you want it to retain its crunch and color. Lastly, season with lime juice.

Other Massaman Curry Vegetables

The only vegetables found in traditional massaman curry are onion and potato. I personally like to use as many vegetables as possible in my cooking, so I use bell pepper and broccoli in my version as well. You can also use: cauliflower, green beans, snowpeas, mushrooms, and/or zucchini (as long as the total volume of vegetables in the recipe stays roughly the same).

Making This Curry In Advance

Yes, this recipe does work for meal prep since the curry is arguably even better after it sits. You can keep it in the fridge for about 4 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.

More Asian-inspired favorites…

• Lemongrass Curry
• Sesame Garlic Tofu
• Spicy Peanut Tempeh Noodles
• Palak Tofu (Vegan Palak Paneer)

Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag your creation with @thenewbaguette on Instagram.

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