5 Tempting Beef Massaman Curry Side Dishes

If you’re looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, there’s no better option than beef massaman curry.

This dish is a Thai classic that’s full of fragrant lemongrass and creamy coconut milk.

But what are some other foods that pair well with this dish?

All the companion ideas below are tried and true, and they are all worth your attention.

What is beef Massaman curry?

Beef Massaman curry is a Southern Thai dish that is a fusion of Thai and Indian cuisine.

The word “Massaman” means “Muslim-style,” and this dish is said to have been created by the Muslim communities in Southern Thailand.

It’s a creamy curry made with beef, coconut milk, lemongrass, garlic, and a variety of spices.

This dish is a great option if you’re looking for something heartier than other Thai curries.

It’s also perfect for those who love the combination of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.

The spices in the curry are typically found in Indian cuisine, but it has a distinctly Thai flavor due to the use of lemongrass and coconut milk.

5 best side dishes to serve with beef Massaman curry

Here is the list of the five side dishes that we find best on the side of beef Massaman curry:

Jasmine rice

Jasmine rice is a fragrant rice that goes well with curry.

It has a delicate flavor and texture, making it the perfect choice for serving with beef Massaman curry.

This long grain variety of jasmine rice cooks quickly, which means you won’t be waiting around for your meal to come together.

Jasmine rice is also a good source of fiber, which can help keep you full longer after eating it.

It’s also high in vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B3 (niacin), and minerals like manganese, phosphorous, and iron.

The fluffy and starchy texture of steamed Jasmine rice will help absorb nicely the delicious liquid from the curry.

Steamed bok choy

Bok choy is a Chinese vegetable, but it’s also a member of the cabbage family.

Bok choy is packed with vitamins A, C, and K.

It’s also a good source of folate, potassium, and magnesium.

If you’re cooking with bok choy, it’s a good idea to keep the leaves on the stem.

This keeps them crisp and flavorful, as well as retaining their nutrients.

Besides steaming, you can also saute bok choy with olive oil, garlic, and soy sauce for extra flavor.

Roasted vegetables

Roasted vegetables are another great side dish with Massaman curry.

They’re easy to prepare, healthy, and a great way to use up leftover vegetables in the fridge.

If you’ve got some veggies in the fridge that need to be used up, then this is a good recipe for you.

Some popular veggie items for roasting are potatoes, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, eggplants, and green beans to name a few.

Roasted vegetables are easy to prepare.

Just preheat your oven to 350°F, cut up your vegetables into bite-size pieces, and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Roast them in the oven for about 30 minutes until they’re tender on the inside and crispy outside.

Naan bread

Naan bread is a leavened flatbread, usually served with curry.

It’s made from white flour, yeast, and salt.

The dough is allowed to ferment for at least eight hours before being kneaded into balls and topped with ghee (butter), which rises during cooking and gives the bread its flaky texture.

Naan bread is cooked in a tandoor (a large clay oven), which chars them on the outside while keeping them soft on the inside.

This also makes them ideal for soaking up sauces like massaman curry!

Cucumber salad

A cucumber salad is a great addition to your beef massaman curry meal.

It’s refreshing, easy to prepare, low in calories, and a good source of vitamin C and A.

Cucumber salad is an ideal side dish with both massaman curry and other Thai curries.

It’s refreshing on its own or served with spicy dishes like Massaman (Thai red curry).

The combination of flavors in this dish pairs wonderfully with most types of meat, fish, or poultry because the dressing has just enough sweetness to complement savory meats such as beef or chicken while still being light enough that it doesn’t overpower other foods like rice noodles or potatoes.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed these recipes for beef massaman curry side dishes.

They will definitely be the inspiration for your next party.

The great thing about curries is that they can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, so feel free to experiment.

If you have any questions about the dish or just want to share your own favorite serving suggestions, please leave us a comment below.

We’d love to hear from you!