This pineapple curry with shrimp is a spicy, sweet, salty, savory curry that is bursting with Thai flavors and ready in under 30 minutes. This recipe is made with easily purchased ingredients substituting a couple more authentic Thai ingredients with ones available in your local grocery store. Gluten Free and Dairy Free.
Pineapple curry? Yes, trust me you need to start adding pineapple to your Thai red curry ASAP. While you can make a delicious Thai curry with just veggies and protein, the pineapple really takes this dish to the next level.
Thai curry paste is the key component in this recipe and can either be store bought or made from scratch. If making your own curry paste from scratch you have more control over the level of spice and can add less chili peppers for a more mild version. If you’re working with store bought curry paste be sure you do not overdo it on the curry paste if you’re looking for a mild/medium level of heat. As written this recipe makes for a medium level of heat when using the Maesri curry paste. Each curry paste has it’s own level of heat so if using a different brand you may need to experiment a bit before getting your desired heat level.
I love Thai curries because they’re just so versatile. There is an endless combination of ingredients that you can add. My current favorite is this pineapple curry with shrimp. The pineapple adds an element of natural sweetness to balance out the heat of the red curry paste and the saltiness of the fish sauce. This pairs perfectly with shrimp, salmon, chicken, or even butternut squash for a vegetarian/vegan friendly recipe.
This pineapple curry makes for a perfect easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
Pineapple Curry with Shrimp Ingredients:
- garlic – I love to add minced garlic to my Thai curry recipes to add even more flavor.
- ginger – I love adding fresh minced ginger to curry recipes for more flavor.
- red curry paste – this gives that perfect Thai curry flavor. My favorite brands are Maesri and Mae Ploy. You can find curry paste in the International or Asian aisle at your grocery store. You should be able to find Thai Kitchen red curry paste at your local grocery store and this one is significantly less spicy than the Maesri/Mae Ploy brand. In this recipe I use the Mae Ploy curry paste so if using the Thai Kitchen brand feel free to add more.
- shrimp – I love using shrimp in this pineapple curry but you can also use chicken, shrimp, or butternut squash.
- pineapple – pineapple adds a perfect element of sweetness to balance out all the other flavors in this curry. Use fresh or frozen.
- fish sauce – a little goes a long way, adds that authentic Thai curry flavor. I love the flavor of fish sauce for its umami – that earthy savory flavor that makes a dish taste complex. My favorite brand is Red Boat which you can find at Whole Foods or online. For a vegetarian version use soy sauce or gluten free tamari.
- coconut milk – best to use regular (not light) coconut milk. One of my favorite brands with a more authentic Thai flavor is Aroy D, which you can find on Amazon or at a local Asian supermarket.
- coconut sugar – to balance out the saltiness from the fish sauce. Can substitute with brown sugar.
Recipe Variations for this Pineapple Curry:
- Protein – In place of shrimp, feel free to use chicken, salmon, tofu, etc.
- Veggies – feel free to add more veggies – bell peppers, green beans, onions, baby corn, bamboo shoots, etc
How to Make this Pineapple Curry:
Heat oil over medium heat in a wok or pan. Add minced ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant just 1-2 minutes. This is key to release the aroma and increase the depth of flavor of the curry.
Add curry paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Next, add in the coconut milk in three stages. When traveling in Thailand I learned at several cooking classes that adding coconut milk in stages helps to maximize flavor and release the oils from the coconut milk. If you’re short on time you can skip this step, but if you have the time take the extra couple minutes to add in the coconut milk slowly. Start by adding 1/3 of the can, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for a couple minutes and repeat the process two more times.
Add in the shrimp and pineapple. Cook until shrimp is pink and cooked through. Add fish sauce and sugar. Taste and adjust as needed.
Serve curry over rice, garnished with lime juice, basil and cilantro.
This pineapple curry with shrimp is a spicy, sweet, salty, savory curry that is bursting with Thai flavors and ready in under 30 minutes. This recipe is made with easily purchased ingredients substituting a couple more authentic Thai ingredients with ones available in your local grocery store. Gluten Free and Dairy Free.
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp ginger minced
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 2 tbsp red curry paste (or less depending on heat preference)
- 1 pound shrimp
- 3 cups pineapple fresh or frozen, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
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Heat oil over medium heat in a pan or wok. Add ginger and garlic. Cook until fragrant.
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Add curry paste and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes.
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Add coconut milk - in 3 segments, first adding one third of it, bringing it to a boil, reducing heat to a simmer, and repeating the process.
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Add shrimp and pineapple to the curry. Cook until shrimp is pink and cooked through.
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Add fish sauce and sugar. Adjust to taste as needed.
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Serve over rice (optional) garnished with lime juice, fresh basil and cilantro.
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