Vegetarian Thai Curry with Udon Noodles

Name: Vegetarian Thai Curry Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces dried udon noodles; 1 tablespoon avocado oil; 1 package medium-firm tofu (cut into chunks and dried well); 2 15-ounce cans coconut milk (can be light); 6 tablespoons red Thai curry paste (or to taste); 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon coconut sugar; 2 medium onions (cut into thick slices); 1 medium Japanese eggplant (cut into half-moons); 4 bunches baby bok choy (torn into pieces); 2 medium bell peppers (cut into strips); 2 medium carrots (cut into rounds); 2 stalks celery (cut into half-moons); 1 cup purple or green cabbage (chopped); 3 green onions (cut into 1-inch slices); Sea salt (to taste)

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Vegetarian Vegetarian Vegan Vegan Refined Sugar-Free Refined Sugar Free

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This is our go-to vegetarian Thai curry recipe that's both healthy and delicious. Colorful fresh vegetables are simmered in a creamy coconut curry broth and served with crispy tofu and chewy udon noodles. It's an easy-to-make meat-free meal that everyone will love, and it's ready in just 30 minutes!

For more meat-free meals, also try our Thai peanut curry, cauliflower curry with chickpeas and peas, and creamy coconut lentil curry.

Vegetarian Thai Curry with tofu in a pot

This is what we refer to as our go-to vegetarian curry because it's a basic recipe that's endlessly versatile. We use a colorful mix of vegetables and lightly cook them in a creamy coconut broth, then serve it up with golden tofu cubes and toothsome udon noodles.

We happen to use onion, Japanese eggplant, baby bok choy, bell peppers, carrots, celery, and cabbage but feel free to mix it up. It's also a great recipe for using up stragglers in your crisper. If you don't like tofu, feel free to omit it or swap it for chickpeas.

Udon noodles have a really wonderful chewy texture, but you can also serve the curry with regular rice noodles, or a different grain like rice or quinoa. We think it tastes especially great with our favorite coconut rice.

It's a comforting, healthy, and delicious meat-free meal you'll find yourself making again and again!

Why you'll love it

It's healthy and uses only fresh ingredients
It's creamy and delicious
It's vegetarian (and vegan)
It's easy to make
It's versatile

a close up of Vegetarian Thai Curry in a pot

What you'll need

Here's what you'll need to make this delicious vegetarian Thai curry recipe:

Udon noodles – look for dried udon noodles in the Asian section of your grocery store, or sometimes you can find fresh ones in the frozen section.
Avocado oil – for frying the tofu and making it extra crispy.
Tofu – medium-firm tofu works well here; It gets nice and golden when fried, keeps its shape, and has a good texture.
Coconut milk – coconut milk makes the base of the delicious creamy sauce. We love full-fat coconut milk for its creaminess but you can use light, if you prefer.
Thai curry paste – we use an authentic red Thai curry paste for maximum flavor. Scroll down to see our tips on selecting the best Thai curry paste.
Fresh vegetables – in the pictures we use a mix of onion, Japanese eggplant, baby bok choy, bell peppers, carrots, celery, and red or green cabbage but feel free to mix it up or use what you have on hand!
Green onions – for serving.

How to make this vegetarian Thai curry recipe

This Thai vegetarian curry is on high rotation in our kitchen. Once you know the basic steps, it's easy to make and memorize them. Here's how we make it:

Cook the udon noodles (or grain of choice). Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the udon noodles and cook according to the package directions, drain, and rinse.
Now fry the tofu. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the tofu, and cook until it's crispy. Carefully flip the tofu to brown it on all sides.
Meanwhile, make the curry by combining coconut milk, curry paste, soy sauce, and coconut sugar in a large pot. Bring it to a simmer, then add the onion and eggplant, and reduce heat to gently simmer.
After a few minutes, add all the remaining vegetables and stir well. Cook for a couple more minutes, being careful not to overcook them.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the green onions and crispy tofu. Serve over cooked udon noodles, rice, or quinoa!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

Recipe variations

Thai curry is incredibly versatile and you can easily make changes to the recipe based on what you like, what you have on hand, or what you can find in the grocery store. Here are a few ideas:

Use extra-firm tofu for a more chewy protein.
Make this vegetarian Thai curry recipe gluten-free by using tamari and serving it with rice.
Add veggies such as green beans, snow peas, or broccoli.
Give it a wintery feel by adding some cubes of potatoes, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash.
Turn this Thai red curry recipe into a Thai green curry or yellow curry by switching the color of the curry paste you use.
Finish the curry with some cilantro or Thai basil.

A spoon pouring thai curry sauce over udon noodles

How to choose the best Thai curry paste

The type of curry paste you buy will make a big difference in this recipe. We highly recommend visiting an Asian market and scouring their shelves for Thai curry pastes. The best ones always come from Thailand and have little English written on the packaging. We've had success with Amoy Thai red curry paste, and Mae Ploy is another great brand.

If a good quality Thai curry paste isn't available to you, adding ginger, garlic, and lemongrass will help bolster it up and add lots of delicious Thai flavor.

FAQS

Is this recipe spicy?

Yes, this curry will have a bit of kick, but it will all depend on your curry paste. The best thing to do is to start out conservatively. Start by adding 3-4 Tablespoons of curry paste, taste, and add more to your desired heat level.

Where can I buy dried udon noodles?

Dried udon noodles can be found in the Asian section of most well-stocked grocery stores. If you have an Asian market close by, we recommend checking it out as it will have the best selection. You can sometimes find frozen (fresh) udon noodles in the freezer section and these are often very good.

How long do leftovers keep in the fridge?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in your fridge, and they will keep for 4-5 days. The leftovers taste great and make a healthy packable lunch!

Ideas for serving vegetarian Thai curry

When served with noodles or rice (like our favorite coconut rice or jasmine rice), this vegan curry is a meal on its own. Add it to your weekly meat-free menu rotation and make it on busy weeknights as a simple and nourishing dinner. It's also a great meal for date night with a glass of chilled white wine!

We love making this vegetarian curry for a crowd and serving it family-style with a few other sides like fresh spring rolls with tahini dipping sauce, baked coconut shrimp with mango sauce, and mango Thai noodle salad with sesame ginger dressing.