What Vegetables Go with Green Curry? 20 Best Veggies

Green curry is a very spicy dish, so it pairs well with vegetables that are less spicy. You can serve vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, as well as other milder ones like peas or carrots.

There’s nothing like a delicious green curry, with chicken, shrimp and other succulent ingredients to make the taste buds go crazy!

But what veggies also go well with green curry?

You’re in luck because below, we have listed 20 vegetables that go well with green curries.

What Vegetables Go with Green Curry? 20 Best Veggies

Green curry is a spicy Thai dish that is typically served with rice, but can also be paired with noodles or potatoes. In addition to rice, you can serve green curry with vegetables like asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms and cabbage.

1. Celery

Carrots are great as they have a somewhat sweet flavor that goes really well with the spices in the curry.

They pair really well together, and you won’t even notice that you are eating vegetables! Pretty neat right?

2. Snap Peas

They will give your curry a great crunch and they’re packed full of vitamins and minerals too.

Snap peas are also very easy to prepare as you just need to top and tail them.

Simply cut the end off the pod and then pull the string along the length of it.

This action will break open the pod and expose the peas inside.

Then all you need to do is cook them in your green curry.

3. Eggplant

This vegetable is packed full of nutrients and that means it is great for your physical and mental health.

The best thing about eggplant is that it tastes great when cooked in a green curry.

4. Daikon Radish

This is a long white vegetable that is extremely popular in Asian cuisine.

You may have seen it on the menu at your favorite Thai restaurant or on your last trip to Thailand.

It has a mild flavor that adds another dimension to the spiciness of green curry.

The crunchiness of this daikon radish when mixed into the green curry makes it an excellent choice for dinner tonight.

5. Cabbage

Cabbage is a delicious addition to any curry, but it especially works well with green curry.

It’s sweet and tangy flavor goes so well with the hot, exotic flavors of green curry, and it brings a crispy element that all curries need!

6. Broccoli

Broccoli is another vegetable that goes really well with a green curry as it has a similar texture to chicken.

When you eat broccoli with green curry, you won’t even notice that it isn’t chicken! It’s like getting two for one!

7. Bell pepper

Bell peppers are a great addition to any curry dish!

They offer a crunchy texture and a beautiful color that really makes the dish stand out and look more appealing to the eyes.

8. Mushrooms

If you love mushrooms, then you will love to know that they go well with green curry.

Mushrooms are a great segue into the world of Asian cuisine because they can be cooked in a variety of ways.

They can be fried, grilled or even sauteed to give that extra kick to your meals.

Mushrooms also pair up nicely with many types of meat, so they’ll fit right in with almost anything on the menu.

9. Carrots

Carrots are also an excellent vegetable to have with green curry.

Not only do they go well with the chicken, shrimp and other ingredients, but they can also enhance their flavours.

10. Bamboo shoots

Bamboo shoots are a great addition to any recipe and they add texture and flavor to any dish.

You can add them to everything from soups to stir fry dishes and they are already cut up so they are ready to use as soon as you buy them from the store.

They blend well with the spices of green curry and add a nice crunchy texture to the dish too.

11. Cauliflower

Cauliflower is another great vegetable that goes well with green curries, especially when paired with other veggies like broccoli and eggplant.

12. Onions

When it comes to green curries, nothing beats an onion.

Onions are not only sweet but when cooked right, they are also crunchy and go great with the flavors of green curry.

13. Beans

Beans are rich in protein and iron, which makes them the perfect addition to any plant-based meal.

The delicious and nutritious vegetable is also an excellent source of fiber – one cup of cooked beans provides almost two-thirds of your daily fiber requirement.

14. Asparagus

This popular vegetable is one of the best tasting vegetables around.

The taste of asparagus goes well with the rich flavor of green curry and you will find this food becomes one of your favorite meals because of it!

With asparagus being rich in iron and folate, it’s definitely good for you too. 

15. Kale

Kale, also known as borecole, is a vegetable that originates from the cabbage family.

It is a very nutritious vegetable and contains various vitamins such as vitamin A, C and K.

Furthermore, it also contains omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants which are beneficial to your health!

Kale is a great addition to green curry because of its watery texture.

In addition, it also has an earthy taste which likens to spinach when cooked and will complement your curry dish perfectly!

16. Green Beans

Green beans (See also this list of recipes using canned green beans) are another vegetable that goes well with green curry.

The taste is similar to snap peas, just not as sweet.

They also have more of an earthy flavor than other vegetables on this list, which makes them perfect for people who like their veggies to be less sweet.

The texture is crunchier than snap peas too, so if you’re looking for something with more texture then these might be what you’re after!

17. Potatoes

Potatoes are a fantastic vegetable to have with almost any curry, but go especially well with green curries.

They are extremely filling and have such a rich taste that go perfectly with the deep flavors of green curry.

18. Snow peas

Snow peas make a great addition to green curries because they add some extra crunch and color to the dish.

They also pair wonderfully with chicken breast or fish fillets when cooked in coconut milk sauce such as Thai-style curry recipe below.

Just be sure to trim off their ends before cooking so that they retain their shape when cooked through (about 10 minutes).

19. Bok choy

Bok choy adds texture as well as flavor when used in dishes like this one below, where it pairs well with ginger carrots on rice noodles served over rice noodles which have been cooked separately beforehand then added together just before serving for maximum flavor impact!

20. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin A and contain antioxidants that may help lower blood pressure.

They also have a naturally sweet flavor that complements the spiciness of green curry!

5 Tips for Choosing Vegetables to Go with Green Curry

Green curry is one of the most popular Thai dishes, and with good reason!

It’s so versatile, you can use almost any vegetables you have on hand.

And while that might sound like a daunting task to the untrained eye, we’re here to set your mind at ease.

Here are our five tips for choosing which vegetables to put in your green curry dish:

1. Pick Something that Goes Well with Coconut

Coconut milk is the main ingredient in green curry paste, so it’s important to choose a veggie that can hold up next to its strong flavor and rich texture.

Our favorites are potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots, but feel free to branch out and try something new!

2. Choose Veggies that Taste Good Raw

Because this dish cooks quickly—anywhere from 5-10 minutes—you’ll want to pick veggies that don’t need a lot of time in the heat before they’re soft enough to eat.

3. Go for Colorful Veggies

The color of a vegetable can tell you a lot about its flavor.

Darker colors like greens and purples indicate that the vegetable is more bitter or earthy, while lighter colors indicate sweeter flavors.

4. Think About Texture

Green curry is a rich dish, so many people choose crunchy veggies like green beans or snow peas to go with it.

When you’re picking out your vegetables, make sure that their texture is something that will pair well with the softness of the curry sauce.

Cucumbers are another good option: they’ll add a cool, refreshing flavor to a spicy dish.

Cooking for someone who can’t handle much spice?

Try adding some potato!

Not only does this root vegetable soak up flavor, it also absorbs heat.

5. Consider Taste

While you can put just about any vegetable in a green curry, some work better than others.

Bitter flavors go better with milder curries while sweet and sour flavors go better with more pungent curries.

For example, a bitter flavor such as mustard greens would be great in a milder green curry whereas a sweet and sour flavor such as pickled cabbage would be better in a pungent green curry.

Why Serve Veggies with Green Curry?

When you’re preparing green curry for dinner guests, it’s important to serve it with veggies for several reasons:

1. The Veggies Help Cut Down on The Spiciness of The Stew

Vegetables like broccoli, celery, and bean sprouts are perfect for this.

They provide a nice balance to the spicy flavor of the green curry and help you avoid that “burned tongue” sensation.

2. They’re Packed Full of Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins are the nutrients in food that keep your body strong and healthy.

Minerals perform different functions that keep your body working properly.

If you don’t have enough vitamins or minerals in your body, you can get sick.

3. They’re High in Fiber

Fiber can keep you regular and help to lower your cholesterol, so adding veggies to your green curry will only help out with that.

4. They’re Low-Calorie, but Filling

Veggies are packed with fiber, which is great for digestion, but also makes you feel full and happy with less food—which means cutting calories and helping fight obesity.

5. They’ll Make It Instagram Worthy

Plain rice? Yawn. Veggies? #YUM.

A plate full of veggies adds not just nutritional value, but visual value to your plate, making it a million times more appealing and shareable on social media.

What Can I Add to Green Curry for More Flavor?

If you’re looking to add a little more depth to your green curry, we have the solution.

Here are seven of our favorite ways to take your dish over the top:

1. Add More Spices

The answer to almost anything that needs more flavor is typically “add more spices.”

If you’re eating a green curry, chances are you already like the flavors of coriander, cumin, and ginger. So why not add more?

These three ingredients are a great place to start—try adding a little extra of each until you get the taste you’re looking for.

2. Add Heat

If you’re trying to find out how to make your green curry spicier, consider adding some fresh peppers or red pepper flakes to turn up the heat.

This works especially well if you want to add some extra spice without changing the overall flavor of the food.

3. Add Vegetables

One of the most delicious ways to add flavor and texture to a dish is by adding your favorite veggies.

For instance, if you’re making vegetarian green curry, try adding asparagus or broccoli florets—they will soak up all of that delicious curry sauce and help give your dish that rich mouthfeel that makes it so satisfying.

4. Add a Pickling Broth

Take two quarts of water and two cups of rice wine vinegar and bring them to a boil in a separate pot.

Then add one cup of sugar, reduce the heat, and simmer until it’s dissolved. Remove from heat, cool, and set aside.

Slice shallots and chilies into thin rings and place in an airtight container with one tablespoon of salt per cup of pickling broth.

Let stand for five minutes, then strain out the excess liquid and soak in the pickling broth for ten minutes before using as a garnish on your green curry dish.

5. Roast Some Eggplant Slices

Cut an eggplant into thin slices about half an inch wide, set aside some salt, and toss the eggplant slices with coconut oil.

Lay them out on a sheet pan and sprinkle liberally with salt.

Roast until tender when pierced with a fork (about 20 minutes at 400 degrees), then flip over halfway through cooking time. Use as a side dish or put them directly in your curry!

6. Add Some More Curry Paste

A little bit of curry paste goes a long way, but don’t be afraid to add a little more if your dish could use it.

If you’re looking for the most flavorful dish possible, opt for red curry paste over green – the red variety packs an extra punch of heat that’s sure to please your taste buds.

7. Try Some Different Meat

Chicken or beef are both great choices for a green curry, but you can also opt for shrimp or pork instead!

Or, if you’d like to keep it vegetarian-friendly, consider adding tofu or seitan for a delicious protein boost.