Is Yellow Curry Spicy? (How Hot Is It?)

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Is yellow curry spicy? The ingredients used in making different curries are pretty hot and “Spicy.” basically, all curry dishes are spicy – they just have different levels of spiciness.

Yellow curry is one of the tastiest Thai curries you’d ever taste; it’s milder than red curry and green curry. To prepare this Thai curry, you don’t need too many ingredients, and it doesn’t take a lot of time.

Although a part of Thailand cuisine, yellow curry can be found in virtually all cities, globally, in Thai restaurants or intercontinental restaurants.

Generally, yellow curry dishes are made with yellow curry paste; there are pretty many things you’d know to know about this curry.

What is Yellow Curry?

– It is called yellow curry because it typically looks yellowish after preparation.

Yellow curry is one of the top three most popular Thailand curries; it basically stands behind the red curry and green curry when you rank them by “Hotness.”

But, if you’re talking about the sweetest, yellow curry is typically sweeter than red and green curry.

This Thai curry typically appears yellowish after it’s been cooked; hence the name, yellow curry. Well, the color is due to the base ingredient used in the paste and also while making the curry dish.

Mostly, Yellow curry paste and dishes are made by adding a large amount of turmeric, making it look yellowish.

Regardless, there are many other ingredients you’d find in yellow curry recipes. This Thai curry has an alluring scent and looks rich.

Ingredients for Making Thai Yellow Curry

Is Yellow Curry Spicy

Apparently, the ingredients may vary, depending on the recipe you’re following and who’s cooking the dish.

But, basically, Yellow curry is made with yellow curry paste, and the paste is typically prepared with the following ingredients:

  • Coconut milk
  • Coconut cream
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger
  • Lemongrass
  • Salt
  • Yellow chilies
  • Onions (optional)

These are the base ingredients for yellow curry paste, but some people may add other aromatic herbs to achieve different scents and tastes.

There’s nothing wrong with modifying your yellow curry recipe – substituting the ingredients to get a different taste.

Is Yellow Curry Spicy?

The simple answer is YES. Yellow curry is spicy but not as spicy as other types of Thai curries – particularly the red curry and green curry.

Notwithstanding, a chef may add too many yellow chilies and spices to a yellow curry dish; thus, making it spicier than normal.

The spiciness of a meal is mainly dependent on the cook and the taster. You can also prepare yellow curry paste at home, adding the ingredients to your taste and preference.

Furthermore, you can substitute yellow curry with green curry or even Panang curry if you want to taste another similar Thai recipe.

So, conclusively, Thai Yellow curry is a spicy dish, yet it’s milder than green curry and red curry if prepared the traditional way. Some people love to modify their recipes to get a different taste, and that’s not bad.

Note: If you add more chilies to your yellow curry, it will become as hot or even hotter than red curry.