This Chicken Panang Curry tastes better than your favorite restaurant at a fraction of the price but is incredibly easy to make in 30 minutes all in one pot! It’s lusciously coconut creamy thanks to my secret ingredient, tangy, savory, sweet and salty perfection and will have you joining readers in “wanting to chug the sauce so you can make it at a moment’s notice 👏.
PANANG CURRY RECIPE VIDEO
You will love this Panang Curry Recipe
What is Panang Curry?
Panang Curry, also spelled Phanaeng or Phanang, is a Thai curry that is rich, creamy, and slightly sweet with a hint of spiciness. It is made with a base of coconut milk, Panang curry paste (which typically includes ingredients like red chilies, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, shallots, and spices), and often features protein such as thin strips of chicken, beef, or tofu, along with vegetables like bell peppers, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai basil. It’s known for its bold layers of complex flavors and is my favorite Thai dish of all time!
What is Panang Curry Paste?
Panang curry paste is a key ingredient in making panang curry, and the only ingredient you might need to order or purchase from a specialty store (I use this pasteย by Mae Ploy). The paste is an explosion of flavors comprised of aromatic ingredients such as red chilies, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal (a root similar to ginger), garlic, shallots, peanuts and spices like coriander seeds, cumin, and shrimp paste – all gathered and ground into a fine paste for you! Panang curry paste typically has a rich, complex flavor with a balance of spicy, sweet, and savory notes.
The main differences between panang curry paste and red curryย paste is panang contains ground peanuts, is less spicy, yet stronger, richer and slightly sweeter than red curry.ย
PANANG CURRY RECIPE INGREDIENTS
The ingredients for this panang curry recipe might look a little lengthy, but most of the ingredients are just whisked together.ย In addition to the curry paste, you will need (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
Panang Curry Recipe Variations
Customize this chicken panang curry with any veggies, protein, heat, etc. Here are a few ideas:
DO YOU HAVE TO USE FULL-FAT COCONUT MILK?ย
I HIGHLY suggest full fat coconut milk if you would like restaurant-style creamy, flavorful panang.ย Light coconut milk simply isnโt as thick or flavorful so youโre missing out on both flavor and texture.ย If you do use light coconut milk, I suggest adding 1 tablespoon additional cornstarch to help thicken it up.
CAN I MAKE PANANG CURRY VEGETARIAN?
Absolutely! ย Replace the chicken with extra-firm tofu or replace the chicken with extra vegetables or chickpeas. To use tofu, place it in a pie plate, top with a heavy plate and weigh down with 2 heavy cans (to release water). Set aside for 10 minutes while you finish prepping the veggies, then proceed with stir frying it with the panang curry paste.
How to make Panang Curry
You will be shocked at just how quick and easy this panang curry recipe comes together once you have yourย paste.ย Let’s take a closer look with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
Panang tips and tricks
How to serve Panang Chicken
Panang curry should be served with a side of rice to absorb the rich, robust sauce. We particular like it with:
How to store Panang Curry Chicken
This panang curry makes exceptional leftovers and reheats wonderfully for lunches or dinners.
-How to store:ย Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. If desired, you can divide the panang into individual containers with rice on the side for meal prep.
-Microwave:ย Transfer a portion to a microwave safe dish, heat for one minute, stir then continue to heat at 30 second intervals.ย
-Stove:ย Rewarm gently in a large skillet, stirring often. You can microwave the rice as youโre warming the chicken on the stove.
HOW TO FREEZE CHICKEN PANANG CURRY
I do not recommend freezing the chicken panang curry with the bell peppers because they become an unpleasant mushy texture.ย If you are making it for the sole purpose of freezing, otherwise, you may want to pick out the bell peppers of the portion you wish to freeze.
1. Let the Panang curry cool to room temperature.
2. Transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and squeeze out excess air to prevent freezer burn and seal.
3. Label and freeze for up to three months.
4. Thaw in the refrigerator before warming according to above reheating directions.
Panang Chicken FAQs
Panang curry isnโt an overly spicy dish, in fact, itโs typically less spicy and sweeter than red curry. However, the level of heat can easily be adjusted based on personal preference by adding additional chili sauce. For an even spicier dish, Thai red chilies (remove seeds and membranes) can sautรฉed with the curry paste.
Yes, Panang Curry typically contains peanuts in the curry paste, providing a rich, sweet and nutty flavor to the curry. Panang curry paste is traditionally made from a combination of dried red chili peppers, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime zest, and a blend of aromatic spices like coriander and cumin. Roasted peanuts or peanut butter, shrimp paste, and fish sauce complete the rich and complex flavor profile. These ingredients are ground together to form a flavorful and aromatic paste used as a base for Panang curry dishes.
Panang Curry and Red Curry are both Thai curries that contain common core ingredients such as coconut milk, chili peppers, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime zest, and a blend of aromatic spices like coriander and cumin.
The primary difference is Panang Curry, is milder, sweeter and richer than Red Curry. The Panang curry paste includes peanuts which lends a nutty richness and makes the curry thicker and creamier. In contrast, Red Curry is spicier, more pungent, and typically uses a higher amount of red chili peppers.
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Panang Curry Chicken
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut/olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Panang curry paste (I use Mae Ploy brand)*
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs thinly sliced into 1/8โ slices against the grain
- 3 red bell peppers, thinly sliced (or other veggies)**
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 14 oz. cans quality coconut milk
- 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch (depending on desired thickness)
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup loosely packed Thai basil or regular, roughly chopped
Garnish (optional)
- fresh basil
- fresh cilantro
- fresh lime juice
- Asian chili sauce
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium high heat in large saucepan or braiser. Add curry paste and sautรฉ for 1 minute.
- Add sliced chicken and cook just until chicken is no longer pink. Add ginger and garlic and sautรฉ 30 seconds.
- Add 1 ½ cans coconut milk. Whisk cornstarch into remaining ½ can coconut milk then add to skillet. Stir in sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, bay leaf, and thyme.
- Simmer for 5 minutes then add red bell peppers and basil and simmer 2-3 minutes or until peppers are crisp tender. Discard bay leaf.
- Adjust to taste: Sweeten it up with additional brown sugar, add tang with additional lime juice, spice it up with additional Asian chili paste, add salt/more umami with additional fish sauce or salt. You may also add additional curry paste for more overall flavor and heat.
- Garnish with additional optional fresh basil, cilantro and chili sauce to taste. Serve with rice.
Video
Notes
- *2 tablespoons is medium-spicy – about a 4 spice level on the Thai 1-10 restaurant scale if using Mae Ploy brand.ย I have found Mae Ploy to be a little spicier than other brands so it is possible that 2 tablespoons other brands might just be medium heat, and you may need to add more to taste at the end. (I used 3 TBS, that is why my curry is darker.)
- Chicken is much easier to slice if partially frozen. It will thaw quickly once sliced.
- You can slice your chicken and red bell peppers in advance for even quicker meal meal prep.
- I recommend one red bell for sweet crunch, then you can swap in other vegetables such as snap peas, bamboo shoots, zucchini, carrots, etc.ย
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Carlsbad Cravingsยฉ Original
Same great recipe from 1-1-2018, photos updated!
Marie says
Congratulations on your lung transplant anniversary! You are such a source of strength and inspiration! And the Panang Curry looks delicious!
Jen says
Thank you so much Marie, you are so sweet! I so appreciate your kind words! All the best to you and yours!
Dee says
I always order Panang Curry so I am SO Excited to try this! Thank you!!
Jen says
I am excited FOR you Dee! I think you will absolutely love it! Enjoy!
Jamison B says
I have been looking around at other recipes until finding this one and very keen to try it! Can i ask how you would cook it normally if you have access to all the hard to get ingredients (eg kaffir lime leaves and palm sugar)? I have access to pretty much any Asian ingredient and want to make it the best possible!
Thanks – Jamison
Jen says
Hi Jamison, sorry for the delay as I had surgery this week but thanks for your comment. I would substitute the brown sugar with 2-3 tablespoons palm sugar as it is stronger than brown sugar. I would substitute the bay leaf, dried thyme and lime juice with 7 kaffir lime leaves, 3 torn into pieces, and 4 finely shredded (discard the stems) and then add lime juice to taste if needed. Hope this helps!
Becky says
Have you ever tried freezing the curry after you prepare it? The Internet is giving me mixed reviews on freezing coconut milk.
Thanks!
Becky
Jen says
Hi Becky, unfortunately coconut milk tends not to freeze well – the milk proteins and fat separated from the liquid, much like what happens when you freeze buttermilk. Sorry!
Claire says
Can this be done in a slow cooker? If so what changes would I need to make?
Jen says
Hi Claire! I have never tried this in the slow cooker but is should work great – it just might not get as creamy. I would add all of the ingredients except the bell peppers. You can even add the chicken whole and chop when cooked. Add the bell peppers the last 30/45 minutes and cook on high until crisp tender. Enjoy!
Teri says
I have made this twice now, and let me tell you. It is DELICIOUS. It is SO creamy and decadent. I have also made this recipe once using all the ingredients as listed but I had to sub regular red curry paste, as the ONLY Asian food market in this area keeps unreliable hours and was closed. It was still very good! This recipe is so quick and easy but it tastes like I spent hours on it. It is definitely a favorite.
Jen says
Hi Teri, I’m thrilled you love this recipe so much because it is one of my absolute favorites ever! you have great taste ๐ I’ll have to give it a try with red curry paste some time, you’ve totally peaked my interest!
Rachel says
My sister turned me on to your site and this is the first recipe I made. I have been to Thailand multiple times (even taking a cooking class one time!) and this is still one of the best Panang curries Iโve ever had! I bought the large container of paste, so I look forward to making this every week until my family is sick of it ๐ Next Iโll have to try your pad Thai. Iโll have to check if you have a pad see ew recipe, thatโs my other favorite! Thanks.
Jen says
Welcome to my site Rachel! I absolutely love your comment and am super flattered this is one of the best Panang Curries you’ve ever had! I hope you love the Pad Thai equally as much! I don’t have a recipe for Pad See Ew yet, but it’s coming!
David says
My search is finally over!!! This recipe is amazing and has people asking me to have Thai night at my house. This tastes even better than my local Thai restaurants and we used to order Panang curry at least twice a week. I do make some minor adjustments. I use 2 cans Coconut Cream and one coconut milk. Add an extra TBS of Cornstarch. I used 6 ounces of palm sugar with 1 TBS of Coconut Sugar. 15 lime leaves (which I remove after simmering about 10 minutes). I put lots of vegetables (Broccoli, Zucchini, Carrots, Shallots, Peppers…today I’m trying Cauliflower and next time I’m trying Japanese Eggplant). This is sooooo good!!!! Thanks Jen for changing my life!!!!
Jen says
Thanks for your awesome comment Dave! I am thrilled it is such a favorite and better than your local Thai restaurant! The additional coconut cream sounds divine and I love how you have played with so many veggies – yum!!!
MC says
I had never had this dish before but the pictures looked so good, I had to try it! I had a hard time finding the paste and ending up getting it off Amazon. I thought it was delicious and so did my husband! The kids thought it was a little spicy though, but that’s typical. Thanks for the great recipe!
Jen says
Hi MC! I LOVE that you wanted to try this recipe even though you haven’t had it in a restaurant before but more importantly I’m thrilled it was a hit! Thank you!
Michelle says
I have a recipe for Panang Beef Curry that I love, so I almost didn’t try this, but I’m so glad I did. This was SO good. It was so different from the beef curry; almost like two completely different recipes. I didn’t know about the cornstarch but added it anyway; I think it helps since there are so many bell peppers. All of the bell peppers didn’t fit in my huge skillet but I should have added them anyway, because they did end up cooking down a bit and it would have been fine (I used 2 red, 1 orange). I sliced the bell peppers in the morning and this came together quickly at dinnertime. Thanks for sharing this. Looking forward to trying your other Thai recipes.
Jen says
Welcome to my site Michelle, I’m so happy you loved this Panang Curry so much! I LOVE Thai food so I hope you enjoy exploring my recipes!
Amanda says
Amazing! I have been trying for ages to make a curry that wasn’t just meh. This was the kind that makes me just want to chug the sauce. Delicious. I used thai green curry paste, not panang, but I will try that next time as it is my favorite. I ran out of brown sugar so I subbed white sugar with molasses and it worked great. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jen says
WAHOO! Thanks so much Amanda! I love hearing you love this curry as much as us! I have lots of curry recipes with great flavors, so I hope you can get your curry fix!
Kiri says
This is AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. My husband is singing me praises over it & he is a big time foodie. If youโre on the fence about making this recipe, do it! You wonโt regret it.
Jen says
Thank you for your outstanding recommendation Kiri! I’m thrilled it was such a hit!
Gary says
I made it with red curry paste, shrimp, scallops, and 2 kaffir lime leaves. I kept the lime juice and basil. It was legitimately delicious! Great recipe.
Jen says
mmmmm! I love the sound of shrimp and scallops! So happy you loved it Gary!
Brian says
This recipe is wonderful and very easy to make. Your story is amazing and inspirational. Thank you so much! The only change I made (the second time I made it) is I used one red bell, and added chopped snap peas, carrot, and bamboo shoots. Delightful!!! I am excited to delve deeper into your recipe book and can’t wait to try more dishes.
Jen says
Thank you so much Brian for taking the time to read my story! I’m so happy you love this Panang Curry and it sounds fabulous with all those veggies! I hope you love exploring my other recipes just as much!
VS says
I couldnโt find Panang curry at my local grocery. Can I use red or green curry with this recipe?
Jen says
I would use this red curry recipe instead: https://carlsbadcravings.com/thai-red-curry-chicken-recipe/ Enjoy!
Olga says
Panang is our fave curry and this looks soooo yummy! You’re site is my go to so I’m excited to try it! Do you think ok to use boneless skinless thighs instead of breasts? Any ideas on how to do this as a beef panang as well?
Jen says
Thanks so much Olga! I think this pangang curry would be fabulous with chicken thighs too! As far as beef, I would follow the marinade/cooking instructions for my Szechuan Beef: https://carlsbadcravings.com/szechuan-beef/
Olga says
Thank you for yet another fantastic recipe! I pretty much wanted to drink the sauce. This got rave reviews (and there are a few total foodies in our crew:) I used thighs (just prefer how juicy and forgiving they are) and added some broccoli in a bit before the peppers. I had kafir lime leaves in the freezer so I subbed about 10 of those those for the lime, thyme and bay leaf (but really want to try your more pantry friendly substitution next time). I can’t wait to try your red curry and basil chicken recipes soon!
Jen says
You’re so welcome Olga and thank YOU for taking the time to comment! I’m so pleased this panang curry was a hit even with your foodie friends and your substitutions sound tasty! I hope you love my other Thai recipes just as much!
Emily O'Connor says
I’m excited to try this recipe, but just a heads up that it sounds like Chaokoh uses forced Monkey Labor. Target, Costco, Kroger, etc dropped the brand because of this unethical use of animal labor.
Jen says
Thanks Emily! This is an old post so I need to update it!
Kellianne Clarke says
As good as advertised! I followed the recipe exactly and was thrilled when it came out perfectly!
Jen says
I’m so pleased you loved it, thanks Kellianne!
Alizabeth says
Made this and used miracle noodles. Yummy!
Jen says
Thanks, so glad you loved it!
Diane Haines says
Just finished eating this for dinner, and the flavor is wonderful, although mine didn’t look like yours. Yours looks thicker than mine, and mine was like a thin soup. I did add the 1 T. of cornstarch, and measured everything meticulously, so I’m not sure why it’s like a thin soup. I put it over rice, and really enjoyed the interesting flavors. Thank you for a great recipe and for the suggestion of using the Mae Ploy Panang Curry.
Jen says
Thanks, Diane! I’m not sure why it was thin, but I am so glad you enjoyed it regardless! I hope it turns out even better next time!
April says
This was so yummy!! Thank you for all your hard work and sharing. It’s so nice not to have to go out for food like this. You made it very easy ๐
Jen says
You are so welcome, April! I am thrilled you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much- comments like yours make my day!
Monika says
I love this recipe! Itโs become a go to for me.
Jen says
Thank you Monika! I’m thrilled it’s been a repeat for you!
Missy says
I make this on a regular basis in my house & it is delicious, itโs better than what I get at my favorite Thai restaurant! Thank you for sharing. I was thinking would it be ok to use rotisserie chicken instead?
Jen says
I love hearing that! I think that it should work just fine! Shredding the chicken might help it soak up more flavor. Let me know how it goes if you try it!