Curries
Massaman Curry แกงมัสมั่น · gaeng mátsàmàn
A rich, mild coconut curry with warm spices, potatoes and peanuts.
- Spice
- Mild
- Also called
- Matsaman, Mussaman Curry, Thai Muslim Curry
- Virtual price
- ฿95
What it is
Massaman is a mild, thick coconut curry flavoured with warm dry spices — cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and star anise — slow-cooked with beef or chicken, potatoes, onions and peanuts. It reflects Persian and Indian influence on southern Thai cooking.
How it tastes
Warm, sweet and nutty rather than hot: creamy coconut, aromatic spice, a gentle sourness from tamarind and soft potatoes that soak up the sauce. Often ranked among the world's most delicious dishes.
Where it comes from
A southern Thai and Thai-Muslim curry shaped by centuries of trade with Persia, India and the Malay world, using imported dry spices rarely found in other Thai curries.
Ingredients
- Massaman curry paste
- Coconut milk
- Beef or chicken
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Roasted peanuts
- Tamarind
- Palm sugar
- Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise
How it's made
The paste is fried in coconut cream, then meat is browned and simmered slowly with coconut milk, spices, potatoes and peanuts until the meat is tender and the sauce is thick and glossy.
Variations
- Massaman Neua (beef)
- Massaman Gai (chicken)
- Massaman Kae (lamb)
- Vegetarian with tofu and potato
Where to eat it
Southern Thailand, Thai-Muslim restaurants, and curry shops nationwide; a special-occasion favourite.
