What is the difference between Thai green, red, and yellow curry?

The main difference is the chilies and aromatics in the paste. Green curry uses fresh green chilies and is bright and often the spiciest; red curry uses dried red chilies for a rich, medium heat; yellow curry adds turmeric and curry powder for a milder, warmly spiced flavor.

Which Thai curry is the mildest?

Massaman curry is usually the mildest and most approachable, with warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom, peanuts, and potato. Panang is also mild-to-medium and creamy. Most Thai curries can also be adjusted to your preferred spice level.

Can Thai curry be made vegan?

Yes. Thai curries are coconut-milk based and easily made vegan with tofu and vegetables, as long as the curry paste is free of shrimp paste and fish sauce. Thailicious offers vegan versions of its curries in Henderson, NV.

Thai Curry Guide: Green, Red, Massaman & Panang Explained

Thai curries can be intimidating if you're new to them — they all look creamy and delicious, but the flavors and heat levels are very different. The secret is in the curry paste: a blend of chilies, herbs, and spices that gives each curry its name and character. Here's a simple guide to the four you'll see most often.

Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan)

Made with fresh green chilies, Thai basil, and kaffir lime, green curry is bright, herbaceous, and typically the spiciest of the four. It's simmered in coconut milk with Thai eggplant and bamboo shoots. If you like a fragrant curry with a real kick, start here.

Heat: medium–hot · Flavor: fresh, aromatic, slightly sweet

Red Curry (Gaeng Phed)

Red curry gets its color and warmth from dried red chilies. It's rich and rounded, with a medium heat that most people find very approachable. Coconut milk, bell pepper, and basil round it out. A great "middle of the road" choice.

Heat: medium · Flavor: bold, savory, balanced

Massaman Curry

The gentle giant. Massaman is influenced by Persian and Indian spice traditions, with cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, peanuts, and potato. It's mild, slightly sweet, and deeply comforting — perfect if you want flavor without much heat.

Heat: mild · Flavor: warm, nutty, sweet-savory

Panang Curry

Panang is thicker and creamier than red curry, with a concentrated, slightly sweet flavor and a hint of peanut. It clings to the protein and vegetables rather than being soupy. Mild-to-medium and very crowd-friendly.

Heat: mild–medium · Flavor: creamy, rich, faintly sweet

Not sure where to start? Order massaman or panang if you prefer mild and creamy, red curry for a classic middle ground, or green curry if you want fresh and spicy.

Can Thai curries be made vegan?

Absolutely. Because Thai curries are built on coconut milk rather than dairy, they're naturally suited to plant-based cooking. Swap in tofu and vegetables, and make sure the paste doesn't contain shrimp paste or fish sauce, and you have a fully vegan curry that tastes every bit as rich as the original.

Try Thai curry in Henderson, NV

At Thailicious Authentic Thai & Vegan, we make green, red, massaman, and panang curries from scratch with authentic herbs and spices — and every one can be prepared vegan. Tell us your spice level and we'll cook it to match.

Find us at 19 S Stephanie St, Ste 160, Henderson, NV 89012, or call (702) 489-9441. See all our curries on the menu.