Easy and Delicious Thai-Inspired Beef Massaman Curry

If you’ve never had massaman curry, you are in for a treat! All you need for this super easy recipe is 4 ingredients. That’s it! 4 ingredients and you’re on your way to flavor town. Yai’s Thai takes the bulk of the cooking out of the equation (without compromising any of the flavor) with their super flavorful, made-with-love, premade sauce. If you’re like me and are seeking out all of the quick-and-easy recipes to get dinner on the table fast, this is the recipe for you!

Easy Beef Massaman Curry Recipe

This beef massaman curry recipe is the easiest (emphasis on the EASY) and quickest recipe you’ll find on the internet thanks to Yai’s Thai and 4 simple ingredients. You’ll cook everything (except the rice – which you can batch cook using this How to Batch Cook Brown Rice guide and have ready for a variety of meals throughout the week) in one pot and have a complete meal on the table in less than 30 minutes, with minimal hands-on time. Yai’s Thai Massaman Curry brings the dish together in a rich and flavorful curry sauce that the entire family is sure to love. A note – it’s on the slightly spicier side, so you may want to use less sauce for people who aren’t as accustomed to spice. 

What is Massaman Curry?

Massaman curry originated in southern Thailand and has influences from Malaysia and India. The flavors are built from aromatics including lemongrass, garlic, shallots, and galangal (similar to ginger with more of a citrus tone) common to Thai cuisine, and whole spices commonly found in Indian cuisines, like cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves. It’s a coconut curry made with massaman curry paste that is rich, slightly spicy, slightly sweet, a little tangy, and utterly delicious.

Why We Love Yai’s Thai

We LOVE Yai’s Thai and have been huge fans for a long time. Founders Leland (whose half-Thai heritage and mother influenced much of the cooking in the kitchen) and Sarah wanted to create products that not only tasted amazing and remained authentic to the traditional flavors but were made with better-for-you ingredients without compromising on flavor. They set out to develop an expansive line of sauces and curries that not only taste delicious, but are super easy to use (speaking our language!), and let me tell you, they deliver! Reaching for Yai’s Thai over and over again when looking to solve the dinnertime hustle is a no-brainer for us. 

Ingredients in Thai Massaman Curry

4 simple ingredients (in addition to your kitchen staples – salt, pepper, and olive oil) are all you need to make this super flavorful dish! The garnishes are totally optional for whatever you like.

• 1 pound of Yukon gold potatoes, halved or quartered (into 2-3″ pieces)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound of beef sirloin stew meat
• 1 yellow onion, quartered and sliced into 1″ pieces
• 1 jar of Yai’s Thai Massaman Curry 
• Rice, for serving
• Crushed peanuts, for garnish (optional)
• Thai chilis or red jalapeno pepper, for garnish (optional)
• Cilantro sprigs, for garnigh (optional)

Why Yai’s Thai Massaman Curry?

While there are plenty of decent massaman curry pastes available on the market (so you don’t have to make your own from scratch), we love Yai’s Thai Massaman Curry because the entire sauce is already made and ready to pour. It has rich and complex flavors that are fragrant and warm, and it’s the perfect way to get dinner on the table quickly.  

What spices are in Massaman Curry?

Massaman curry is made with a blend of cinnamon, cumin, black pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves. 

Ingredient Modifications and Variations

This recipe was made to be simple. It is gluten- and dairy-free by nature, so no subs are necessary there! Here are some ways you can change things up:

• Add more vegetables – while beef massaman is traditionally made with potatoes and onion (featured here), you can absolutely add more vegetables if you have some in the fridge. Carrots would make a nice addition. 
• Change the protein – feel free to use whatever protein you have on hand. Chicken or ground beef would be really easy subs. You could also use pan-fried tofu to make it a vegetarian meal. 
• Serve over quinoa, coconut rice, cauliflower rice, or zoodles if you’re wanting something a little different than regular rice. 

How to Make Easy Massaman Curry with Beef

The process to make this dish is truly simple and doesn’t require a lot of prep/hands-on time. Here’s how you’ll make it:

1. Cook the potatoes – in a large pot, add 3-4″ of water and the halved or quartered potatoes and bring to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander and set them aside.
2. Brown the meat – to the same pot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add to the pot and brown on all sides. 
3. Add the onions – add the sliced onions and saute for 5 minutes, or until the onions begin to soften.
4. Add the sauce – pour the sauce over the beef and onion mixture, then add the potatoes and stir to combine. 
5. Simmer – bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Serve and enjoy! Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped peanuts, a few sprigs of cilantro, and some sliced Thai chilis or red jalapeno (for some extra heat, if desired), serve, and enjoy!

How to Store and Reheat Easy Massaman Curry

Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this massaman curry is good for up to 5 days. To reheat, add it to a pot and heat over low heat until warmed through, or place it in the microwave and heat for 90 seconds, stir, and heat for additional 30-second increments until warmed through. 

Beef Massaman Curry FAQs