When it comes to new ideas for your next dinner party menu, it can be hard to come up with inspiration. Thai green curry is a favorite, but it can be difficult to find the right accompaniments to suit it.
What are some different things to do with green curry? Try pairing your green curry with something light like a salad or noodles, or something more substantial like chicken or pork. If you want to make it extra special, you can also pair your green curry with brown rice.
If you’re searching for some innovative and interesting ideas for your next dinner party, then look no further! We’ve got everything you need to know about what side dishes go with Thai green curry right here.
See Also:
- Thai Green Curry Wine Pairing – Best Wines for Thai Green Curries
- What to Serve with Curry Chicken Salad? 17 Best Side Dishes
What Side Dishes Go with Thai Green Curry?
1. Thai Sweet Chili Broccoli
Thai green curry is often served with a plate full of other dishes but one of the most popular items to serve alongside it is fresh steamed broccoli.
The high amount of protein in the curry also allows you to pair it with something lighter, like steamed broccoli.
This works because the high amount of curry flavor is balanced out by the sweetness of the broccoli and you still have a light and healthy dish that is bursting with flavor.
There are many options to pair with Thai green curry. You could use coconut milk to cut through the spice and also add a creamy element.
A different option would be using a vegetable dish with some heat, like eggplant or potato, to contrast the flavors of the curry.
Thai sweet chili broccoli works well with both coconut milk and the vegetable option. This makes the recipe a great choice for vegetarians or anyone who wants a side dish that will add an extra level of flavor to your curry.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/760967668290002096/2. Spicy Asian Zucchini
Thai green curry has such a delicious aroma that it would be hard to pair it with anything other than a side dish of something spicy.
Zucchini is one of those vegetables that is so delicious that you want to eat it in its raw form, and the high amounts of moisture help to make it an easy dish to pair with.
You can get zucchini in many different ways. You can slice up the zucchini and grill them, you can cut them into rounds and fry them, you can slice them up and cook them in a pan.
Whatever way you like to serve your Thai green curry, you can serve it with a dish of sliced zucchini.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/12736811437728728/3. Pineapple Fried Rice
Fried rice can be a classic side dish option. Fried rice is a really easy option to make in any kitchen, especially if you have already made your curry, but the addition of pineapple really adds to the flavors of the dish.
There is something about the sweet pineapple that is perfect for fried rice, and the freshness of the pineapple really helps to bring out the flavors of the dish. It also works as a crunchy garnish to balance out the flavors of the curry.
The pineapples can be sliced into rounds and gently sautéed on the stove top to cook them.
Or you can fry the pineapple slices with the rice, which gives them the benefit of being both cooked and crispy. You can also use frozen pineapple that you have on hand and you want to make this dish right now!
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/82050024452433346/4. Thai Cabbage Salad
Cabbage is a member of the mustard family and it has a very strong, peppery flavor. It is often used in Asian cuisine as a condiment and side dish.
It is usually served raw or very lightly cooked, and it can be pickled. If you have ever had Korean kimchi, you will find that it is similar in flavor to cabbage.
A great way to add more vegetables to your diet is to try some different varieties. Get your hands on a few heads of green cabbage and some red cabbage and see how they compare side-by-side. The flavor of green cabbage is very mild and sweet, while red cabbage has a much stronger flavor and a slightly bitter edge.
You can also get a variety of different greens like chard, kale, bok choy or even romaine lettuce and see which one you like best. Greens are a very healthy addition to any diet and are often overlooked as a vegetable option. They have the potential to really enhance your health by giving you a lot of vitamin and mineral power packed into a small package.
Cabbage is the base for many Asian dishes and is used as both a condiment and an ingredient. It is often served with green papaya salad or as the central ingredient in a Thai-style cabbage salad.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/13229392647301354/5. Thai Peanut Noodles
This is another simple dish that can pack a lot of punch if you know how to make it work. This is one of those dishes that is easy to order in a restaurant but hard to make at home unless you know what you are doing. That is why I love this dish so much.
The peanut noodles are a great stand-in for rice, and the addition of chicken or shrimp makes this an even more complete dish.
Peanuts have a very neutral flavor, which allows all the other ingredients to really shine through. So, go nuts with the peanuts in this dish. Sprinkle them on top, stir them into the curry or add them as a garnish to your plate.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/599963981613744923/6. Crispy Thai Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are not a vegetable many people love, but when they are cooked properly, they can be one of the tastiest veggies around. They have a nutty taste and a soft texture and are low in calories, which makes them an excellent option for those watching their weight.
A crispy version of brussels sprouts is a great way to add a lot of zest and crunch to your plate, especially when served with Thai food. The heat from the Thai green curry will soften the texture of the brussels sprouts and the salty flavors of the green onion, lime, and fish sauce will round out the dish perfectly.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/498210777530382665/7. Thai Sweet Potato Curry
One of my favorite sides to serve at a Thai dinner is sweet potato curry. It is so flavorful and full of wonderful spices that are bursting with flavor.
You can serve this curry alongside any of your dishes, and it is great with green curry, yellow curry, red curry, or curries made with different fish and seafood.
This is one of those dishes where I think of the flavors first, and then decide what to serve as a side. That way you can use it in so many ways.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/629941066637303948/8. Korean Zucchini
Thai green curries are famous for being one of the spiciest curries around and so they always get a side of rice to help mellow out the heat.
If you are looking for a tasty and easy side dish to go with this curry, look no further than zucchini.
Zucchini has a milder flavor and texture than regular summer squash and it goes great with the spicy flavors of Thai curries. It can also be used as a substitute for potatoes in a lot of recipes.
Zucchini is also known as courgette in some countries and sometimes you will see it referred to as that name instead.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/16466354879191117/9. Thai Cucumber Mango Salad
There are many different side dishes that go with Thai green curry, but one of my favorites is Thai cucumber mango salad.
It’s easy to prepare, takes no time at all, and it tastes wonderful.
Thai cucumbers have a unique flavor that is very bright and tangy. The combination of them with the creamy, sweet mango really helps to make it something special and memorable.
This is a great accompaniment to any meal and perfect as a quick snack or appetizer. It can also be made in bulk so it is always ready for when you need something simple and delicious!
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/538180224228555630/10. Spicy Thai Pasta Salad
This is a great side dish to serve when someone orders green curry, and it is easy to make and requires no cooking. Just mix everything together in a bowl and you are done!
The red peppers add color and zest to the salad and they have a wonderful way of balancing out the other flavors.
Make sure you serve this with a side of steamed rice. It really completes the dish and gives the diner a sense of fullness and satisfaction.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/19421842133509138/11. Broccolini with Ginger Miso Dressing
Broccoli is a naturally mild vegetable so it really shines when you give it a little zip of flavor with a tasty dressing.
Serve this as a side dish with your favorite Thai green curry recipe and enjoy! It works equally well as a standalone vegetable as well.
Miso is a great source of protein-digesting B-vitamins that are also great for relieving stress and balancing blood sugar levels.
Miso is a fermented paste made from soybeans that is packed with umami (Japanese for “delicious flavor”) and has a slightly sweet and salty taste.
It is used extensively in Japanese cooking, but is now used all around the globe to add a delicious kick to food.
This dressing is similar to the ginger dressing from the “Seven Asian Ingredients That Are Must-Haves” recipe, but it is spiced up with some extra heat from the red pepper flakes.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/28851253854480343/12. Pan Roasted Cauliflower
There are so many sides that can go with Thai green curry that it is hard to know which to choose.
Cauliflower can work really well with the heat of Thai green curry, and it’s always a great option if you have fresh green cauliflower and a recipe to pair with.
The flavor of green curry is spicy and hot, and cauliflower can take a lot of heat, so this pairing is perfect.
You can add a little extra spice to your dish by pan-roasting the cauliflower to caramelize and cook it until it has a bit of a nutty flavor.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/544583779952675787/13. Pecan Honey Roasted Carrot
The side dish of choice for many Thais is pineapple. It goes very well with the sweet and spicy flavors of Thai curries, but it can sometimes be a little too sweet for some palates.
A nice alternative is to serve a lightly steamed or sautéed vegetable like carrot. They are sweeter in flavor and don’t have the same tart aftertaste that a slice of pineapple does, which is great when you are eating with a group of people who might not be as fond of spice as you are.
A lot of times, the sweetness of carrots and other vegetables can even cut through the richness of coconut milk based curries, making them a delicious and easy-to-eat side dish.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/68468856823140468/14. Korean Shiitake Mushroom Side Dish
Korean shiitake mushrooms are a staple side dish in Asian cuisine. They have a meaty texture and a robust flavor. They are usually cooked with garlic, soy sauce and other seasonings and eaten as part of a multi-course meal.
They are perfect for snacking on by themselves or as an addition to a different type of side dish.
You can also slice them up and use them as a topping on pizza or other flatbread items. The earthy flavor and chewy texture makes them a natural addition to just about any dish.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/452400725075247001/15. Caprese Salad with Avocado
A side dish that is often paired with Thai green curry is caprese salad. The reason this is the case is that the fresh herbs and tomatoes in the salad provide an interesting contrast to the strong flavors of the curry.
You can also serve the salad as a starter or as a light lunch. Just remember to always have a few extra cherry tomatoes on hand so you can pop one into each salad when someone orders it for you.
Fresh basil is a great herb to have on hand for all sorts of dishes. It is a common ingredient in pesto and adds a beautiful lemony quality to a variety of dishes.
Arugula also works well with Thai curries, and in general, most any kind of spicy dish will benefit from some peppery arugula.
You want something crunchy and a little bit sour to balance all that heat? Serve some sliced or cubed watermelon. It goes great with Thai curries and is a welcome addition to just about any meal.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/384283780713115928/16. Easy garlic lemon sugar snap peas
Who doesn’t love a good snap pea? They are such a versatile vegetable and can be served in many ways.
Snap peas have a slight sweetness and freshness that is great to balance out the savory flavors of the green curry. They also have a good amount of fiber and vitamin C, making them the perfect healthy side dish for Thai curry.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/60306082501610184/17. Easy Roasted Bok Choy and Broccoli
Bok choy and broccoli are two sides that go really well with green curry, and it is easy to see why. The mild heat from the green curry and the slightly sweet flavors from the coconut milk in the gravy will complement both of these vegetables perfectly.
Both of these items are quite healthy too. This is another side dish that can be eaten alone or with rice or noodles.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/258112622382630546/18. Roasted Tomato Chickpea Quinoa Salad
This is a really versatile side dish salad that can be made with whatever vegetables you have on hand. It is also a great way to get more veggies in your diet without feeling like you are “eating vegetables.”
One of the ingredients is quinoa which is a complete protein. It is packed with more than twice the iron of an equivalent amount of beef and has a lot of other health benefits.
Quinoa is naturally high in lysine which helps to prevent muscle tissue from breaking down. This is important because when you are recovering from an injury or surgery, your body tries to repair itself by breaking down your muscle tissue.
Having extra protein and extra lysine in your diet can help to prevent this process from occurring.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/76350156173543178/19. Easy Garlic Rice Pilaf
Rice is one of the staples of the Asian diet and is usually served at every meal. It is almost impossible to have a Thai green curry dinner without rice.
Garlic rice is an easy side dish to add to any Thai meal. Just stir-fry a small amount of garlic in a teaspoon or two of oil until it starts to brown. Add a cup of basmati or other long grain rice and continue to cook until the rice starts to turn translucent. Add some Thai green curry sauce, a little soy sauce and maybe a little water and let it all come to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and let it steam for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, fluff with a fork and enjoy!
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/216946907042645472/20. Thai Cashew Coconut Rice with Ginger Peanut Sauce
The Thai Green Curry is one of my favorite curries in the world. It has so many unique flavors and it always makes me want to order it at every restaurant I go to.
The best way to eat it is with rice, but this green coconut rice is very easy to make at home.
This recipe calls for cashews which are similar in flavor to peanuts and work well with this curry.
To make the ginger sauce, simply combine a few ingredients to make a delicious and creamy sauce. You can add some chili flakes to spice things up a bit if you like, or use a milder version if you prefer.
The cashews in this dish are also a great source of healthy fats that can help to balance out any of the fatty flavors in the curry.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/396950154665615588/21. Mango Salad with Zesty Lime Vinaigrette
This is one of those dishes where the flavors are so unique and strong, you can pretty much serve anything as a side dish.
That said, a mango salad is a wonderful option because it has a naturally sweet flavor, a little tartness from the limes, and beautiful vibrant color.
Mangos also have a great neutral flavor and really allow all the other ingredients to shine through.
You can find mangoes in the summertime when they are in season and at their ripest. Buy a few and dice them up, add them to a bowl with some lime juice and zest, a little sugar and salt and toss to coat. Let sit for a bit and then toss again and refrigerate until ready to serve.
This will keep the mangoes from turning brown.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/34902965854424883/22. Hibachi-Style Sesame Ginger Zucchini
See Also: What Vegetables Go in Hibachi Rice
Hibachi-style zucchini is a vegetable that has a smoky, charred flavor. It is great with green curries and is one of the best ways to add some smokiness and spice to your meal.
It is important to serve a vegetable like this alongside your main dish so the flavors are not lost in the sauce.
Zucchini also works really well with basil. Just slice it up and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Let it sit for a few minutes and then put it in a hot oven or grill pan and cook until tender. Then, just stir in some fresh basil leaves and you have a delicious side dish that will go great with your green curry.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/4855512088413686/23. Japanese Style Green Beans
Thai curries are very mild in flavor and work very well with the strong flavors of other dishes. The Japanese-style green beans (Check Also: 42 Best Canned Green Beans Recipes) add a nice contrasting flavor and texture and make a great addition to your meal.
You can serve these with your green curry or any dish that has a lot of acidity like a citrus sauce.
Serve them as a vegetable side dish, or you can also add a dollop of the sauce to your plate and use it as a dip for your green beans.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/530791506088078197/24. Easy Apple Butternut Squash Casserole
Butternut squash is a vegetable that is now becoming very popular all over the world. It has a mild, neutral flavor and it adds a beautiful orange color to any meal.
This casserole features butternut squash and apples and it is a great side dish to Thai green curry.
Sauté your onions and garlic in a little oil until translucent, then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for 20-minutes and then let cool. When it’s time to serve, preheat your oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 baking dish. Pour the contents of the baking dish into the dish and bake for about 30-minutes or until the casserole is set and starting to brown. Let cool slightly before serving.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/19421842134738801/25. Japanese Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing
This is a very popular combination and for good reason! Spinach is one of those ingredients that has such a neutral flavor it just sings when mixed with other strong flavors like Thai curries.
The sesame in this dressing gives it a little extra kick that also nicely cuts through the richness of the curry.
If you have the time, it would be great to make your own salad dressing from scratch. It is easy to do and so much better than the bottled stuff you can buy at the store.
Try to get the plainest ingredients you can find like rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and garlic. That way, you can make your dressing as spicy or as mild as you like. You could add some crushed red pepper flakes if you like things spicy.
You can also try adding a little honey for a touch of sweetness and more complexity of flavor.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/123426846027288557/26. Thai Basil Eggplant Stir Fry
One of the more common ways of eating green curry is over rice, which is fine, but you can also eat it over a bed of vegetables.
The key to the success of this dish is to choose vegetables that complement the curry rather than overpower it. The basil in the sauce has a distinct flavor that can come off as very strong when used in excess, so choose a vegetable that is not too spicy or pungent.
Try using eggplant, as it is mild and works well with the flavor of the green curry and other Thai dishes. You can even go all out and get basil oil for extra flavor.
You can get the Thai basil growing in your garden, but you can also find it in many Asian markets or supermarkets.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/230457705923814165/27. Thai Cucumber Salad with Peanuts
Thai green curry is a classic dish with its flavors of ginger and lemongrass. The dish comes together in such a way that it does not need much embellishment or additional flavors.
That being said, if you are looking to make it really pop, then cucumber salad is an easy option to try.
Cucumbers have a very neutral flavor, but when they are mixed with the fresh spices of Thai green curry, they can take on flavors that will definitely stand out.
You could also add a little bit of extra lime juice to really brighten things up and bring in a refreshing element.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/96123773288060032/FAQ
what starter goes with thai green curry?
Answer: You can serve an assortment of starters with Thai green curry. Things like cucumber, jicama, celery, carrots, and peppers would all go well.
You could also do a mix of seafood like shrimp, scallops, squid, and/or mussels.
Or you could do a mix of chicken like grilled chicken, fried chicken, or even chicken pot pie.
what to serve with thai green curry and rice?
Thai green curry is a spicy dish that works well with any number of sides, especially rice. You could serve some chicken on the side, some vegetables, some coconut milk, or even some fried rice. Anything you would typically pair with a chicken dish would work well.
What are some traditional thai side dishes?
Thai food is full of variety, so it’s hard to come up with a specific set of side dishes that would go well with Thai food. However, there are several traditional side dishes that you could try that might pair well.
There is a dish called “Pad Kee Mao” which is made of ground chicken or duck in a spicy sauce with peanuts and garlic. It’s a simple dish, but the peanut flavor adds a nice contrast to the spices.
Another dish that is served as a side dish in Thai restaurants is called “Tom Yum Goong”, which is a combination of herbs, garlic, and other seasonings that make up a spicy sour soup.
what to have with thai green curry instead of rice?
Answer: If you want to change it up a bit, you can pair Thai green curry with whatever side dishes you feel like. Some good options include potatoes, eggplant, spinach, and anything that complements the Thai flavors in curry.
what vegetables go with thai chicken?
There are so many options that it will depend on your preference. Cucumbers, green beans, carrots, broccoli, or zucchini would all work with Thai chicken.
You can find many different types of vegetables that would go with Thai chicken. Some of the most common are bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, and cabbage.
Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.