27th March 2023 – (Bangkok) TasteAtlas, an online food guide featuring reviews and recommendations from culinary professionals and critics worldwide, has recently updated its list of the best curries in the world. And the winner is… Phanaeng Curry from Thailand!
With a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, this mouth-watering dish is characterized by its thick texture and salty-sweet peanut flavor. Made with dried chilis, kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk, cilantro, cumin, garlic, lemongrass, shallots, and peanuts, this curry is typically cooked with beef, chicken, or duck and does not include any vegetables. The dish’s name comes from “panang,” which means “cross,” referring to the ancient way of preparing chicken with its legs crossed and set in an upright position.
Coming in second and third place on the list, with a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, are kare, or Japanese-style curry, and khao soi, a signature dish of Northern Thailand. Compared to Indian curries, kare is less spicy, sweeter, darker, and usually thicker due to the addition of flour or roux. The most popular variety of kare is kare raisu (curry over rice), which has also been ranked sixth on TasteAtlas’ list. Kare raisu is usually served with fukujinzuke pickles or Japanese scallions on the side. Meanwhile, khao soi is a curried noodle dish with a slightly spicy broth, combining coconut milk and red curry paste as the base of the dish. It is served with flat egg noodles and a choice of meat, usually chicken, beef, or pork, and topped with a handful of crisp fried noodles and chopped cilantro.
Rounding out the top five curries in TasteAtlas’ list are India’s shahi paneer and butter chicken in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Originating from India’s Moghul cuisine, shahi paneer is a cheese curry prepared with paneer cheese, onions, almond paste, and a rich, spicy tomato-cream sauce. The dish is typically accompanied by Indian breads such as naan, roti, or puri. On the other hand, butter chicken is a combination of roasted meat, plenty of spices, and a rich gravy made with cream, tomatoes, and butter. It is usually eaten with naan bread and garnished with even more butter, coriander, or green chilis.
While the top five curries on the list are definitely worth trying, there are plenty of other delicious curries worth exploring. Japanese katsu kare (curry over breaded pork or chicken) ranks 14th on the list, while India’s saag paneer (cheese and mixed vegetable curry) comes in 18th. Burmese chicken curry rounds out the list at 39th place. Singapore’s fish head curry, a specialty dish comprising fish heads, coconut cream, tomatoes, and an array of seasonings such as curry leaves, garlic, chili, coriander, cumin, turmeric, pepper, and tamarind, takes the 38th spot on TasteAtlas’ list, with a ranking of 3.6 out of 5 stars. One pot of fish head curry can easily feed a few people and is often served with bread or rice on the side.