Thai Cooking
Choosing Thai Curry Paste: Green, Red, Yellow, Panang and Massaman
Compare five Lobo 50 g curry pastes by the dish, fresh additions and specific allergen differences, rather than a colour-based heat ranking.
Choose Thai curry paste by the dish you want to cook and the fresh ingredients its recipe needs. Green, red, yellow, Panang and Massaman are different choices; colour alone is not a reliable heat ranking. This guide compares the five 50 g Lobo packets sold by Sawasdeal.
Green, red, yellow, Panang and Massaman curry pastes compared
| Style | Fresh-addition clues | Paste allergen detail checked in the linked sources |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Eggplant, basil and makrut lime leaves. | Contains shrimp. |
| Red | Pea eggplant, cherry tomatoes, sweet basil and chilli. | Contains shrimp. |
| Yellow | Potato and onion in Lobo’s method. | Contains shrimp and mustard. |
| Panang | Finishing garnish of fine makrut lime leaves and red chilli. | Contains peanut and shrimp. |
| Massaman | Potato and peanuts in Lobo’s method. | Paste contains shrimp; recipe peanuts are a separate addition. |
All five curry-paste sources also list possible fish, crab and mollusc cross-contact. Review each current packet’s complete label before selecting for anyone with an allergy.
Colour is not a reliable heat scale
The amount of paste and the other ingredients affect the finished curry. Do not use a red-to-green colour chart as a guarantee of heat. If avoiding chilli entirely, inspect the ingredients instead of choosing a pale-looking finished dish.
What else do you need with curry paste?
Have the protein, vegetables, coconut milk or other liquids and rice ready before cooking. Follow the chosen packet’s proportions rather than swapping another 50 g paste into a recipe unchanged. For a first green curry, the linked guide below gives the manufacturer’s measured starting method.
Is green curry paste vegetarian if I add only vegetables?
Not necessarily. The paste is an ingredient too. Lobo's Green Curry Paste 50 g lists shrimp paste in its ingredients and declares shrimp as an allergen. A meal made with that paste is not vegetarian merely because you add tofu or vegetables instead of meat.
That is a conclusion about this named product, not a claim that every green curry paste has the same ingredients. “Green curry” describes a style of dish; it does not establish a vegetarian or vegan formulation.
- Check the full ingredient list of the exact paste. Do this before choosing your fresh ingredients, rather than after the curry is cooked.
- Check the additions separately. Fish sauce, stock and other seasonings have their own ingredients. Choosing vegetables is only one part of choosing the meal.
- Keep dietary choice and allergy safety separate. A product suitable for one dietary preference is not automatically safe for an allergy. Review the current allergen statement and seek clarification before buying if it is unclear.
The shopping links below are the five named Lobo curry choices discussed in this guide. They are not presented as vegetarian alternatives. Compare their exact labels and choose another verified formulation if your dietary requirements rule out these ingredients.
For a first cooking attempt, select one paste and follow the method for that packet. Keep the fresh-food list beside the paste list so you do not mistake a seasoning sachet for a complete meal kit.
Products discussed in this article
These are the current products discussed in this guide. Preparation and ingredient statements apply only to the exact pack specified in the article, not automatically to every option.
Lobo Green Curry Paste - 50 gThe named seasoning or sauce discussed in this guide; additional ingredients and the method depend on this exact packet.View product →
Lobo Massaman Curry Paste - 50 gThe named seasoning or sauce discussed in this guide; additional ingredients and the method depend on this exact packet.View product →
Lobo Panang Curry Paste - 50 gThe named seasoning or sauce discussed in this guide; additional ingredients and the method depend on this exact packet.View product →
Lobo Red Curry Paste - 50 gThe named seasoning or sauce discussed in this guide; additional ingredients and the method depend on this exact packet.View product →
Lobo Yellow Curry Paste - 50 gThe named seasoning or sauce discussed in this guide; additional ingredients and the method depend on this exact packet.View product →
Similar products and other flavours
These are related shopping alternatives, not confirmation of the same product in a video or a creator endorsement. Compare the difference noted on each current listing.
Shopping links reviewed on October 10, 2026. Check each current product page and package for ingredients, allergens, availability and destination eligibility. These are Sawasdeal’s shopping links, not a creator endorsement.
Discussion (0)
No published comments yet. Share a question or your experience below.