Thai Coconut Fish Curry

Aromatic and zesty, this Thai coconut fish curry is light but intensely flavorful and perfect served with rice for dinner.

Thai Red Coconut Fish Curry

Ingredients needed

  • Oil. I used avocado oil but coconut oil or olive oil can also be used.
  • Onion.
  • Fresh garlic cloves.
  • Fresh ginger.
  • Thai red curry paste. You can substitute the curry paste with spices like turmeric, chili powder, cumin and Garam Masala if you want more of an Indian-inspired dish.
  • Coconut milk.
  • Fish sauce. 
  • Brown sugar. 
  • Fresh lime juice. Lemon juice can also be used.
  • White fish. Hake, snapper, mahi-mahi, cod, haddock, tilapia, halibut, bass.
  • Fresh herbs: basil, cilantro/coriander and mint.
  • Rice, to serve.
  • Lime wedges, to serve.
  • Fresh sliced chillies, to serve. Fresno, bird’s eye chillies, etc.
Thai Red Coconut Fish Curry

How to make Thai red coconut fish curry

  1. Sear the fish: Pat the fish dry with paper towels then drizzle with a little oil and season with salt. Sear in a hot pan until golden brown on both sides then remove and set aside.
  2. Make the curry: In the same pan, sauté the onion, garlic and ginger until soft and translucent. Add the curry paste and cook for a few minutes until fragrant. Pour in the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, until slightly thicker. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Add the fish fillets to the curry sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes until the fish is fully cooked.
  3. Serve: Scatter over fresh herbs and finely sliced chillies then serve with lime wedges and steamed rice.

Can I add vegetables to this curry?

Absolutely. Red bell peppers, sugar snap or snow peas, broccoli, bok choy, spinach or green beans would all be delicious in this fish curry. Cook the vegetables with the onion and simmer in the sauce to allow time to cook thoroughly before adding the fish.

Can I make this ahead?

The sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept in the fridge. Reheat in the pan and add the fish to cook through. Leftover curry can be kept in the fridge for a day and reheated over gentle heat.

Serving suggestions

This fish curry is absolutely delicious served with rice (use cauliflower rice for a low carb/keto meal). I also love adding a side dish of sautéed vegetables and crispy potatoes would be delicious too.

Thai Red Coconut Fish Curry

Easy fish recipes

  1. Easy lemon butter baked fish
  2. Crispy fish tacos with hot sauce crema
  3. Garlic butter Fish en papillote
Thai red fish curry

Thai Curry Coconut Fish Curry

Aromatic and zesty, this Thai coconut fish curry is light but intensely flavorful and perfect served with rice for dinner.
4.61 from 76 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Thai
Keyword: Fish curry, Fish curry recipe, Thai fish curry
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Calories: 267kcal
Author: Alida Ryder
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 500 g (1lb) white fish
  • 1 tsp salt

For the Thai red curry

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 tsp minced ginger
  • 3 tbsp Thai red curry paste
  • 400 g (14oz) coconut milk
  • 1 tsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp lime juice
  • handful fresh herbs Basil, coriander/cilantro, mint

To serve

  • steamed rice
  • lime wedges
  • sliced chillies

Instructions

  • Pat the fish dry with paper towels then drizzle with a little oil and season with salt.
  • Sear in a hot pan until golden brown on both sides then remove and set aside.
  • In the same pan, sauté the onion, garlic and ginger until soft and translucent.
  • Add the curry paste and cook for a few minutes until fragrant. Pour in the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice and brown sugar.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, until slightly thicker. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  • Add the fish to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until the fish is fully cooked. 
  • Scatter over fresh herbs and finely sliced chillies then serve with lime wedges and steamed rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 849mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1774IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg