Finding foods that are safe and tasty can be a real challenge when you follow a vegan diet, and you aren’t alone if you’re struggling with this. You have to check every label and read every bottle to make sure you aren’t eating something you shouldn’t be. Curry paste is one you might be wondering about – can vegans safely eat this?
Although you should always double-check the ingredients list because this could vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, curry paste is usually vegan. It tends to contain mostly spices, and there aren’t usually any animal-based products in it. However, you should still check, just in case something unexpected has been put in.
In this article, we’ll find out more about why curry paste is generally vegan, and what you should look out for if you are concerned about this. We’ll also briefly cover how you can make your own curry paste at home if you want to.
Is Curry Paste Suitable For Vegans?
On the whole, curry paste should be considered a safe food. This is because it is almost entirely made up of spices, and it often contains things like cumin, paprika, and sometimes things like onions, tomatoes, chili, garlic, etc. Of course, many different cultures make their own curries, so ingredients can vary, but most curry sauces are vegan.
There are a few ingredients to watch out for though, and it’s usually the stock that’s the problem. In some cases, curry pastes will incorporate fish stock or chicken stock to make the sauce taste better – and this obviously makes them unsuitable for vegans. You should therefore always check the ingredients list before purchasing and eating curry paste.
Curry pastes may contain things like:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Ginger
- Chilis
- Cilantro
- Soy sauce
- Tomato paste
- Lime juice
- Lemon juice
- Lemongrass
- Fenugreek
- Tumeric
- Tamarind
- Pepper
- Sugar
- Oil
It’s notable that there is rarely dairy in curry pastes. Coconut and coconut cream sometimes appear, but in most cases, there is no need for dairy to be present in the recipe. This absence of dairy is likely due to cultural differences, but it works in a vegan’s favor because it means you are more likely to be able to eat your favorite sauce.
If there is a curry paste you would like to eat, you should look through the ingredients, checking for things like egg, fish stock, shrimp stock, and chicken stock. You are unlikely to see beef stock or lamb stock, but check for any other non-vegan ingredients, like whey, that have crept in.
Which Curry Pastes Are More Likely To Be Vegan?
It’s worth noting that Indian curry pastes are more likely to be vegan than Asian curry pastes (such as Japanese, Thai, and Chinese) because Indians eat less meat overall. Meat is not a traditional part of Indian curry pastes, and therefore it’s unlikely that you’ll see it in most standard recipes.
However, this is not a hard rule and you still need to check the ingredients. There are many vegan Asian curry pastes, and many non-vegan Indian ones. It’s simply worth being aware of this if you are going to buy curry paste instead of making it.
Can You Make Vegan Curry Paste At Home?
If you would rather make your own curry paste at home, you’ll be pleased to hear that this is possible. This is ideal because it gives you full control over your ingredients and means you know for sure what is and isn’t going into your food. It’s more work, but homemade curry pastes can be particularly delicious.
If you would like to give this a try, all you need to do is look up a recipe for the kind of curry you want. They will vary in terms of the ingredients that they call for, but the method is often similar, even across cultures. You’ll usually be blending the ingredients up to make a chunky sauce. You can make it smoother if you prefer, or leave it chunky.
Once the ingredients have been blended, you’ve got your curry paste! This is then easy to store in the fridge for a week, or in the freezer if you want to keep it for longer. Nothing more is needed; simply toss it into a recipe when you are ready to use it.
Although that sounds simple, it is best to follow a recipe for the specific sauce you want to make, so you can ensure you get the best results every time.
Conclusion
The good news is, most curry paste is vegan – but you do still need to watch out for things like unsuitable stocks being used in them. Always check the ingredients, especially when buying a new brand. If your favorite curry paste is not suitable for vegans, consider making your own version at home!
