Is Pad Prik King the same as red curry?

No — it uses red curry paste but is stir-fried dry rather than cooked with coconut milk. The result is more intense and less rich than a red curry.

What does 'prik king' mean?

Prik means chilli; king means ginger. The name refers to the ginger and chilli character of the dish, though galangal and lemongrass in the curry paste are equally important.

stir fry

Pad Prik King

ผัดพริกขิง

Medium

Pad Prik King is a dry stir-fry made with red curry paste, long beans, and your choice of protein — most commonly pork or tofu. Unlike coconut-based curries, this dish is intense, fragrant, and assertively spiced without richness.

Key Ingredients

red curry paste
long beans
pork or tofu
fish sauce
palm sugar
kaffir lime leaves
vegetable oil

Where to Try It

Ubiquitous at rice-and-curry shops (khao gaeng) across Thailand — one of the most common cafeteria-style dishes.

Tips

Tofu version (pad prik king tofu) is one of the best naturally vegan Thai dishes.
Ask for extra long beans if you like the crunchy vegetable element.

Frequently Asked Questions

stir fry

Pad Prik King

ผัดพริกขิง

Medium

Key Ingredients

red curry paste
long beans
pork or tofu
fish sauce
palm sugar
kaffir lime leaves
vegetable oil

Where to Try It

Ubiquitous at rice-and-curry shops (khao gaeng) across Thailand — one of the most common cafeteria-style dishes.

Tips

Tofu version (pad prik king tofu) is one of the best naturally vegan Thai dishes.
Ask for extra long beans if you like the crunchy vegetable element.