Curry is one of the best dishes to eat for dinner. As an Indian and Thai dish, curry has become popular in America. It's among the best and most diverse foods, particularly in Penang vs. red curry. They are the most popular kinds of curry, yet they are also very different in taste and ingredients.
You can make more than fifteen kinds of curry at home or order from restaurants. Penang and red curry are the most popular because of the spice and flavor they have in them. They are very similar and yet very different. Penang originates from Thailand and is known for its thick and creamy consistency. On the other hand, red curry originated from Thailand and is known for its vibrant taste and spiciness.
This guide explores the unique differences between these curries. We look at their nutritional value, how they are different in spice, and how you can make them at home.
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What Is Penang?
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Penang is a curry that is known for its sweetness. It's a dish that is recognized for its cultural exchanges in Thailand.
The sweetness of this dish comes from the coconut milk. Other ingredients part of this dish are lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and dried red chilies. While this curry isn't typically known for being spicy, you can add peppers to give it some added head.
One of the most distinguishing things about Penang is the nutty flavor of adding peanuts or peanut butter. This curry dish is typically enjoyed with jasmine rice, although you can eat it alone.
Traditionally, this food is eaten with beef. However, you can substitute it for beef, chicken, pork, or shrimp. You can also eat it with just vegetables.
Nutritional Value of Penang
Since Penang is made with a lot of coconut milk, you'll find it loaded with calories. However, there's often a good counterbalance with the number of proteins found in the meat.
You'll also find nutritional value from the vegetables added to Penang. If you make it at home, you can always reduce the amount of coconut milk and increase the amount of vegetables.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
What Is Red Curry?
While Penang curry is sweet, red curry is on the spicier side. One of the core ingredients that makes red curry much spicier is the curry paste made with various spices, including dried red chilies, galangal, lemongrass, garlic, and shallots. Like Penang, red curry has coconut milk, which gives it some sweetness and tames the level of spiciness in it.
Other ingredients you'll typically find in red curry are beef, chicken, shrimp, bamboo shoots, and eggplants. Additionally, you can also eat red curry with jasmine rice. You can serve it on the side or the red curry on top of your rice.
Nutritional Value of Red Curry
There are also a lot of calories and sodium in red curry because of the coconut milk. But there's some good nutritional value, considering it's loaded with veggies and protein.
Eating it with jasmine rice can help you get more calcium and iron. Eating red curry with shrimp also contains selenium, which benefits your heart and thyroid health.
Two Differences to Keep In Mind
If you want to make either of these curries at home, you should know how different they are in ingredients. They may share many of the same ingredients found in Thai cuisines, but they are different when it comes to sweetness and spiciness.
The core difference is the curry paste that is found in red curry. This is what gives it the extra spiciness. However, if you order Penang from Thai cuisine, you can request spicy curry paste for another spice level.
Another core difference is the peanuts found in Penang. This gives it a peanut and nutty taste that is not at all found in red curry. The peanuts make Penang taste richer and give it a thicker consistency than red curry.
Penang vs. Red Curry: What's the Better Curry?
Penang and red curry are the most popular kinds of Thai food for a reason. They offer a blend of sweet and spice. They are tasty with different types of protein, from chicken to beef to shrimp. You can also change how spicy you want your curry.
Overall, Penang and red curry offer a lot of flavor and are perfect for any meal. Learning about them can help you decide which one to order at a Thai cuisine or make at home. Trying both can give you better insight into which one you like more.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Chicken Curry
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Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, sliced thin
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 teaspoons yellow curry powder
- 4 skinless, boneless, chicken breast halves (1 to 1 1/2 pounds)
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- When hot, add the onions, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Turn the heat down to medium, sprinkle the onions with half of the curry powder, and continue to cook for an additional minute.
- Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste and season it with the remaining curry powder.
- Move the onion to one side of the skillet and add the chicken in one layer. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- When hot, add the onions, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Turn the heat down to medium, sprinkle the onions with half of the curry powder, and continue to cook for another minute.
- Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste and season it with the remaining curry powder.
- Move the onion to one side of the skillet and add the chicken in one layer. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©nelea33/Shutterstock.com.