Coconut Red Thai Curry with Tofu, Peas, and Sweet Peppers

Difficulty:

2/5

Serves:

4 PEOPLE

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Skip to recipe

Coconut Red Thai Curry with Tofu, Peas, and Sweet Peppers

This Coconut Red Thai Curry with Tofu, Peas, and Sweet Peppers recipe bursts with bold flavors, creamy textures, and vibrant colors—a celebration of Thai-inspired cooking made simple for every home kitchen. Featured on Everyday Excellent with Vanessa Gianfrancesco, this easy curry transforms humble pantry staples into a stunning, aromatic dish that balances heat, sweetness, and richness in every spoonful. Tender tofu, crisp vegetables, and silky coconut milk infuse together to create a dish that’s warming, deeply satisfying, and 100% plant-based—proof that comfort food can be fresh, flavorful, and nourishing all at once.

The Inspiration

When Vanessa Gianfrancesco crafted this Coconut Red Thai Curry, she wanted to reimagine the familiarity of a weeknight stir-fry with the depth and comfort of Thai flavors. Thai curries are renowned for their complexity—the perfect blend of spice, sweetness, and creamy coconut—and this version delivers that harmony with minimal steps and accessible ingredients.

Tofu provides the hearty protein foundation, while a rainbow of red and yellow peppers adds brightness and crunch. Peas and bean sprouts round out the texture, contributing gentle sweetness that balances the curry paste’s heat. What makes this dish distinctly Everyday Excellent is its adaptability: it’s easy enough for a quick Tuesday dinner yet striking enough for entertaining. The combination of fiery curry paste, creamy coconut milk and cream, and aromatic lime zest creates a layered flavor that feels restaurant-quality but is achievable at home.

Ingredients

1 block firm tofu, cut into 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) cubes
1 cup frozen green peas
2 cups (60 g) bean sprouts
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 inches (5 cm) fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 small bunch cilantro
3 tbsp (44 ml) canola oil
1 13.5 oz (400 ml) can coconut milk
1 13.5 oz (400 ml) can coconut cream
1 tbsp (15 ml) tamari
Juice and zest of 1 lime
1/4 cup (60 g) red Thai curry paste
Salt and pepper to taste
4 pieces naan for serving, optional

Method

Cut stems off the cilantro and chop finely, reserving leaves separately.
Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, and ginger, and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until quite aromatic. Add cilantro stems and peppers and cook for 1 minute. Add curry paste, stir and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in coconut milk, coconut cream, and tamari. Add lime zest and stir. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium, add the tofu, and cook for 10 minutes.
Add peas and bean sprouts and cook for 1-2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve garnished with cilantro leaves and lime juice. Serve with toasted naan if desired.

Serving Suggestions

This Coconut Red Thai Curry with Tofu, Peas, and Sweet Peppers is vibrant, aromatic, and endlessly versatile. Serve it as a main dish with naan, basmati, or jasmine rice to soak up its rich coconut sauce. For a light, bright contrast, serve alongside a crisp cucumber salad or fresh mango salsa.

For entertaining, transfer the curry to a beautiful wide dish and garnish with a generous handful of cilantro leaves, extra bean sprouts, or thinly sliced chili for color and heat. Drizzle with coconut cream and lime zest right before serving for that picture-perfect finish.

Final Thoughts

This Coconut Red Thai Curry is everything great food should be—simple to make, luxurious to eat, and bursting with soul-warming flavor. Under the guidance of Vanessa Gianfrancesco on Everyday Excellent, this recipe demonstrates that mastering bold, international flavors doesn’t require complex techniques.

Each bite carries the heat of red chili paste, the smooth creaminess of coconut, the fresh snap of vegetables, and the aromatic lift of lime and cilantro. It’s a dish that satisfies cravings for spice while keeping things wholesome and balanced. Comforting, vibrant, and brimming with character, it’s proof that weeknight meals can be extraordinary—with just one pan, one pot of coconut milk, and a handful of bold ingredients.

Find more recipes from Everyday Excellent here!