How spicy is jungle curry? This Thai cuisine is the hottest among the curries in Thailand. This super spicy Thai curry has a tremendous amount of
If you have never tried it before, you may think Thai food tastes much like other cuisines in Asia. While it does have both East Indian and Chinese influences, it also has its own identity, which separates it extensively from the cuisines served in nearby countries. Thai food consists of four regional cuisines and is renowned for its fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and fantastic aromas.
What is Jungle Curry?
Jungle curry of Thailand comes from the mountain city of Chiang Mai. It is named jungle curry as it is made with ingredients that can be found all through the jungles of the country. While some recipes do differentiate from the conventional ones in some ways, they still have the same essence and the same spices.
The original jungle curry recipe calls for green eggplants or Thai eggplants. Sad to say, it is too seedy and spongy. On the other hand, some also substituted it with zucchini as they have the same texture. Some choose to add beef to this dish, but you can take your choice from any selection of meats. I also suggest adding some well-cooked tofu. The taste will stay the same regardless of the protein you use because this simple recipe’s
Alternatively, if you wish to reduce the
What Does Thai Jungle Curry Taste Like?
Thai jungle curry was traditionally steamed by huntsmen utilizing venison from the jungle, and its featured a similar fantastic balance of sourness, saltiness, hotness, and sweetness as their traditional counterparts. Unlike traditional dishes in Thailand, this one doesn’t have coconut milk, which ensures the same remarkable balancing act of sour, salty and sweet.
Why is this Cuisine Called Thai Jungle Curry?
It was named jungle curry due to the massive amount of green ingredients in the dish, and almost all the ingredients are readily available in the forest of Thailand. It comes with the hottest chilies in Thailand, but you can reduce the amount of chili if you want to decrease the hotness. Shrimp juice and coconut paste are combined with
Thailand’s traditional curry ingredients come up with a complex curry flavor.
What Is Thai Jungle Curry Made Of?
It doesn’t need expensive ingredients to cook Thai jungle curry. It used ingredients readily available in Thailand’s forest. It comes with chicken sauce, but you can substitute it with pork, red, or wild meats. Some variations of jungle curry come with coriander, cumin, and turmeric.
Ingredients for Jungle Curry
Here are some of the ingredients for Thai Curry
- Beef steak: You can use beef steak, but if not available, feel free to use chicken or any protein you want.
- Garlic: This adds a savory and sweet taste to this hot Thai curry.
- Ginger: This ingredient brings a bit of peppered
spice while at the same time infusing the dish with heat and spiciness. It also carries a bold aroma and taste, which many Thais enjoy. - Carrots: Carrots strips frequently lack in taste, but they make up for in texture and the capability to take on the spices and broth around them. Carrots are often renowned for their crunch; however, they can and will soften if soaked.
- Eggplant: This is renowned for being a mild-tasting vegetable, and what makes it suitable to include in the dish- is as it holds many excellent elements on its own. However, it can take on the tastes of the spices and broth around it to flawlessly blend in.
- Green Beans: This adds color and crunch to this cuisine.
- Vegetable Oil: Usually, I use vegetable oil when making jungle curry, but feel free to use any neutral oil like canola oil or grape seed oil.
- Granulated Sugar: Today’s Jungle curry recipe comes with a bit of sugar to help round out the flavor of the cuisine. While sugar is usually added to sweeten up cooking, it is barely apparent here since it is mainly utilized to balance the different tastes and flavors of the curry, but it will not affect the spiciness.
- Red Curry Paste: This paste is made from red chilies, so it is very spicy, smokey, and rich in flavor. Red curry paste is the base of the curry sauce.
- Water: There’s no need to use broth to flavor this curry as it is already filled with lots of aromatics. You’ll need approximately 1 ½ cup of water.
- Fish Sauce: This is one of the most used condiments in Thai cooking.
- Chopped basil: You can add chopped basil to inculcate the curry with a hint of peppery herbaceousness.
- Leaves kaffir lime: This is an aromatic Asian leaf with a spiced citrus taste and a potent floral aroma. It is renowned for being zestier compared to curry leaf, putting in some exceptional taste to this curry.
- Whole black peppercorns: This gives this jungle curry lots of
spice and heat, which will be sneeze worthy.
What is Jungle Curry Spicy Level?
Thai jungle curry is indeed the spicier curry in Thai. This is because it doesn’t come with coconut milk to help reduce the heat or hotness. It has fewer ingredients than other curries in Thai, and chilies make up the maximum percentage of the mixture, which is why it is incredibly spicy.
What is the difference between Thai Jungle Curry and Green Curry?
Aside from the color difference, the most evident and significant difference between these two is the number of chilies they both contain. Thai jungle curry has a lot of red chilies, so it is hotter and spicier than green curry.
What to Pair with Jungle Curry
Regarding the kind of rice to be served with Thai jungle curry, I highly suggest using jasmine rice. If you are planning to add sides to this cuisine, here are a few of my favorites:
- Thai fish sticks
- Tom Kha
- Thai egg and Brussels sprout salad
- Pad Woon Sen
How to Make My Thai Jungle Curry Less Spicy?
There are a lot of ways to reduce the hotness or spiciness of your Thai Jungle curry, such as:
- Eat more veggies
- You can add cream or coconut milk
- You can also use lemon or vinegar
- Drink sour cream or yogurt
- Add a little amount of sugar or ketchup
Conclusion
So, there you have it, the spiciest curry in Thailand, the jungle curry. Aside from being the spiciest Thai curry, it is also the tastiest and the healthiest as it has many vegetables like eggplants and different spices and herbs that can be found in Thailand and doesn’t have coconut milk. Make sure to ready a glass of cold water if you order jungle curry.
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