My vegetarian panang curry uses red curry paste plus a toasted cumin, coriander, and peanut blend for real panang flavor in 75 minutes. Thick, nutty, and vegan.
3tablespoonsred curry pasteMekhala brand, check notes for homemade version
For the curry
2tablespoonsneutral oildivided
16ozcremini mushroomsquartered
½teaspoonkosher salt
114-oz blockextra-firm tofupressed and cut into 1-inch cubes
313.5-oz cansfull-fat coconut milkunshaken
2tablespoonsvegetarian fish sauceOcean's Halo or Tiparos
1tablespooncoconut sugar
4makrut lime leaveswhole, center rib removed
For garnish
4makrut lime leavesvery thinly julienned
1Fresno chilithinly sliced
2tablespoonsroasted peanutsroughly chopped
Instructions
Make the panang curry paste
In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast cumin seeds and coriander seeds together, stirring constantly, until fragrant and just starting to darken, about 2–3 minutes. Watch closely — they go from toasted to burnt fast. Transfer to a small bowl to cool.
Grind the toasted spices to a coarse powder in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Add roasted peanuts and grind until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Set aside.
Prepare the tofu and mushrooms
Heat 1 tablespoon neutral oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the cremini mushrooms in a single layer — do not stir for 2 minutes. Let them sear hard until deeply golden on one side, then toss and cook 2–3 minutes more until moisture has fully evaporated and the edges are caramelized. Season with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, transfer to a plate, and set aside.
In the same pan, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over high heat. Add tofu cubes in a single layer and sear without moving for 3 minutes, until a golden crust forms. Flip and sear 2–3 minutes more on the second side. Transfer to the plate with the mushrooms.
Build the curry
Open the coconut milk cans without shaking. Spoon the thick coconut cream from the top of both cans into the wok — you should have about ¾ to 1 cup of thick cream. Reserve the remaining coconut liquid.
Heat the coconut cream over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until it begins to bubble and the oil visibly separates and pools at the edges, about 5–6 minutes. Don't rush this step.
Add the panang curry paste to the bloomed cream. Fry, stirring constantly, until the paste darkens slightly and becomes very fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. The paste should look dry and clumpy before the liquid goes in.
Pour in the reserved coconut liquid and stir to combine.
Add vegetarian fish sauce, coconut sugar, and makrut lime leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer and reduce for 5 minutes — the sauce should be notably thicker than a standard curry and coat the back of a spoon.
Fold in the seared tofu and mushrooms. Simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until everything is coated and heated through. Taste and adjust — more fish sauce for salt, more coconut sugar if it's sharp.
Ladle over jasmine rice. Garnish with julienned makrut lime leaves, sliced red chili, and chopped peanuts. Serve immediately.
Notes
Sear the mushrooms well before adding them to the curry or the sauce can turn watery.
For a shortcut version, use 3 tablespoons Aroy-D red curry paste plus the toasted cumin-coriander-peanut mixture from Step 1.
Freeze extra curry paste in tablespoon portions for up to 3 months.
Panang curry should be thick, not brothy. Reduce the sauce longer if needed before adding the tofu and mushrooms.
Substitute fresh ginger for galangal if needed.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. The sauce thickens as it sits.
Reheat gently with a splash of coconut milk or water to loosen the sauce. Microwave reheating softens the tofu slightly.