Thai people have been using curries and this type of cuisine for centuries, and it has grown to be one of their most popular dishes.
It’s no surprise that these dishes are so popular because they have a lot to offer. It’s effortless to make, delicious, and nutritious.
This is why I am bringing you a guide to massaman curry vs panang curry, a comparison of their differences and similarities, and answers to other questions you might have regarding these delicious dishes.
Massaman Curry Vs Panang Curry: Two Thai Curries
Who doesn’t love curries? I mean, I do. Here is how to compare them:
What Are Thai Curries?
Thai curries are a popular dish in Thailand. They are a type of dish that has been popularized in the West. They were created by Thai people and are now a part of many different cultures’ cuisines.
These dishes are usually made with a paste made from various types of chilies, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, shrimp paste, and other spices.
The paste is then mixed with coconut milk or water to create a flavourful broth. It is then served with rice or noodles and various vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, potatoes, or eggplant.
There are many variations of Thai curries, but the most common is red curry. This dish is made with coconut milk and red curry paste, which is the key ingredient to making it spicy. The Thai people commonly eat this dish with rice, vegetables, and meat.
Curry is a popular dish in India, and it comes from the Persian word “kari.” There are many variations of curry, such as green curry, red curry, and yellow curry.
Panang Curry
Panang Curry is a classic Thai dish. It is made of red curry paste, coconut milk, and meat or vegetables. It is traditionally made with beef, but can also be made with chicken, tofu, shrimp, or vegetables.
The word Panang comes from the central Thai word “Panang,” which means “from Pana.” The word “Pana” refers to a type of tree that grows in central Thailand, and the leaves are used in cooking as well as medicine.
The name of this dish originates from the specific type of curry paste that it uses, produced in Pana. This type of curry paste is called Panang curry paste, and it has a slightly sweeter flavor than other types of Thai curries because it contains sugar.
This staple in Thai cuisine can be made with cilantro, coconut cream, kaffir lime leaves, bay leaves, dried red chili, curry powder, yellow curry paste, lime juice, dry spices, coriander seeds, jasmine rice, star anise, peppercorns, lime zest, and red chili peppers.
Massaman Curry
Massaman curry is a dish originating from northern Thailand. It is one of the most popular Thai dishes that can be found in restaurants all over the world. The dish consists of meat, potatoes, onions, and peanuts in a thick coconut milk-based sauce.
Massaman curry is a traditional Thai dish that is usually served with a side of rice. The dish has its origins in India, but it was adopted and transformed by the Thai people.
The following are some of the key ingredients in Massaman curry: Beef, potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, tamarind paste, coconut milk, potatoes, onion, and peanuts. It also typically contains ginger, tamarind paste, garlic, cumin, coriander, cardamom, salt, and red pepper flakes.
The dish has a reddish-brown color from the use of red chilies and palm sugar in the Massaman curry paste. The origin of this dish can be traced back to Thailand’s southern region, where it was introduced by Indian Muslim traders in the 17th century.
Massaman Vs Panang Curry Paste: 6 Differences
Next up are the differences between Massaman and Panang curries:
1. Taste
Massaman and Panang curries are both Thai curries. They differ in their ingredients, cooking styles, and taste. Massaman curry is a sweeter and richer version of Panang curry.
The main difference between them is that Massaman curry contains coconut milk, potatoes, peanuts, tamarind pulp, and Massaman paste, while Panang curry does not contain any of these ingredients.
The dishes are similar in that they both have a curry base, but the difference is in the spices used. Massaman curry contains cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, and tamarind, while Panang curry has ginger and cayenne pepper.
2. Origin
There are many different types of curry, but one of the most popular is Massaman curry. Massaman curry is a Thai dish originating from the local Muslim population in southern Thailand and Malaysia.
Panang curry is another popular type of Thai curry that originated in northern Thailand. Panang curry has a spicy and sweet flavor, but it is not as fragrant as Massaman curry because it does not use cinnamon or cardamom.
3. Preparation
They also differ due to their preparation methods. When making Panang curry, you add coconut milk to the sauce, while you can add kaeng or yellow curry paste to Massaman curry.
Sure, both are stir-fried Thai meals, but their preparation methods are different. When making Panang curry, you add coconut milk and cream to its paste. You don’t do this if you are making Massaman, since you add the milk to the stir-fry.
4. Ingredients
Massaman curry is a Thai dish characterized by its rich and creamy coconut milk-based sauce, made with potatoes, peanuts, spices, and herbs. The curry paste for this dish is usually prepared with garlic, chili peppers, shallots or onion, ginger root, and lemongrass.
Panang curry is a Thai dish that has a thick red curry paste as the base of the dish. It also includes brown sugar or palm sugar to give it a sweet taste. Peanuts are also added to the dish in some cases.
5. Color
Color is one of the differences between Massaman and Panang curry. Massaman curry is a red curry with a rich peanut butter sauce, while Panang curry is a yellow color with a coconut milk-based sauce.
Massaman curry is a mild, sweet, and rich dish. The red color comes from dried seasonings and peanuts. Panang curry is a spicy dish made with fresh green chilies. The red color comes from dried chili peppers.
6. Flavors
The difference between a Massaman and Panang curry is the spices used. Massaman curry is milder, sweeter, and contains coconut milk, while Panang curry is spicier, hotter, and contains peanuts.
The difference between Massaman and Panang curry is not just in the flavors. The difference is in the type of meat used. Massaman uses beef, and Panang uses chicken or pork.
Both curries are cooked in coconut milk, but Massaman has a sweeter taste than Panang because of the addition of brown sugar.
Panang Curry Vs Massaman Curry: 2 Similarities
When it comes to Massaman curry and Panang curry, here is what they have in common:
• Thickness: The consistency is a similarity between Massaman and Panang curry. Both the Massaman curry and Panang curry are extra thick.
• Richness: The richness is a similarity between Massaman and Panang curry. The richness in Massaman comes from the inclusion of coconut milk and peanuts in the recipe. The richness in Panang comes from the inclusion of tamarind paste, which also gives it a tangy taste.
Which Is Better: Panang Or Massaman Curry?
It depends on your preferences. Some people prefer Panang curry because it has a sweeter taste and is less spicy than Massaman curry. But others might prefer Massaman curry because of its unique flavor and spiciness.
Both Panang and Massaman curry are popular types of curry in Thailand. They each have their own unique taste and flavor, but people often cannot decide which is better.
Panang curry is sweeter, and has ingredients that include red chili pepper, coriander root, cumin seeds, tamarind pulp, palm sugar, kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk, and galangal or fish sauce.
Massaman curry is more savory with a strong flavor of cinnamon and cloves. It also has star anise pods, cardamom pods, tamarind pulp as well as red chili pepper paste to make it spicy.
Many people ask this question, but there is no definitive answer. The truth is that it depends on the person’s taste buds.
There are many factors to consider when choosing between the two types of curry. For example, some people may like one type more depending on whether they are more into sweet dishes or spicy dishes.
Others might want to choose based on what ingredients they want in their dish, such as chicken or beef for Panang or potatoes for Massaman.
Is Massaman Curry Similar To Panang?
Yes, these two dishes are similar. Massaman curry is sweeter than Panang curry because it has more sugar in the sauce.
Massaman curry is a Thai dish that is typically made with beef, potatoes, onions, and peanuts. Panang curry is also a Thai curry dish, but it’s usually made with beef or shrimp and has a more spicy flavor.
Massaman curry is a Thai dish that is made with coconut milk, peanuts, potatoes, onions, and chicken. It differs from other types of spicy curry sauce as it has a sweeter taste.
Panang curry is also a Thai dish that is made with coconut milk and red curry paste. The main difference between the two dishes is that Massaman curry has potatoes and Panang does not.
Is Massaman Curry Spicy?
Yes, Massaman curry is spicy, but not as spicy as other Asian or Thai food. In other words, the dish is spicy, but other Thai dishes are spicier.
Massaman Curry is a traditional Thai dish that is spicy, sweet, and savory. The dish is made with a meat of your choice (usually beef or chicken), potatoes, onions, peanuts, tamarind paste, and other spices.
The main spices in Massaman curry are star anise, cardamom pods, bamboo shoots, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. The dish is usually quite spicy, but it can be modified to have a milder taste. It is a “sweet” curry rather than a spicy one.
Is Panang Curry Sweet?
Panang curry is not sweet. It is spicy and savory with a hint of sweetness. The sweetness of the curry depends on the type of curry paste that is used. Some people might find it sweet, while others might find it spicy.
Penang curry is a spicy Thai dish with a sweet flavor. The sweetness comes from the addition of palm sugar and tamarind.
The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it seems. Panang curry is a Thai dish that contains red curry paste, coconut milk, and vegetables.
In the end, the answer to this question is: “It depends on the recipe.” Of course, Thai curry paste can have different levels of spiciness. Thai red curry is versatile but spicy, while Thai green curry paste is sweeter and has pestle or makrut lime.
In other words, it depends on the ingredients in the curry recipe or the Thai restaurant you’re ordering in.
Panang Vs Massaman Curry: A Conclusion
With this, I wish to end this Massaman curry vs Panang curry battle. I hope you chose your Indian and Thai curry and you know what your stir-fried dinner will be.
The two curries are very different in their taste and ingredients. Panang is a dryer curry that is spicier, while Massaman is a sweeter curry with more coconut milk.
One of the main differences between the two curries is their taste. The other difference is that Massaman uses peanuts, while Panang does not have peanuts as an ingredient.