Tag: Thai curry paste

The average American consumes over 3,400mg of sodium per day, far exceeding the recommended 2,300mg limit. When considering that statistic, it's worth asking how much sodium is in a bowl of yellow Thai curry, a seemingly healthy dish that can be deceptively high in salt.

Commercially prepared curry pastes can contain significant amounts of sodium, with some brands packing over 300mg of sodium per tablespoon. The exact content varies drastically by brand and type, so checking the nutrition label is crucial. Understanding how much sodium is in curry paste is the first step toward making healthier dietary choices without sacrificing flavor.

While many Thai red curry dishes are prepared with meat like chicken or beef, the main ingredient causing concern for vegetarians is often the paste itself. This paste, the flavorful base of the dish, traditionally includes shrimp paste, making it non-vegetarian by default.

Did you know that the term "curry powder" was actually created by the British to standardize a spice blend, rather than being a staple of traditional Indian cooking? The truth is that what is curry sauce made of can vary dramatically, incorporating diverse spices, aromatic vegetables, and liquid bases to create countless delicious variations.

According to nutritional data, a single tablespoon of red Thai curry paste can contain as few as 10-30 calories, depending on the brand and ingredients. This initial low-calorie figure is key to understanding how many calories are in Thai curry paste before adding other ingredients.