Thai Curry Slow Cooker Vegetarian

Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry with Tofu with text over

Too busy after work to make dinner? Place all of the ingredients for this Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry in your crockpot in the morning, and dinner will be ready when you are! Made with cauliflower, green beans, tofu, and Thai red curry paste, it's the perfect dinner for busy weeknights. This super easy recipe is vegan and gluten-free.

Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry with Tofu with text overlay

Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the slow cooker is a thing of beauty. Health coaching clients have told me that slow cookers scare them, and that they're afraid their house will burn down while they're at work. I've never actually heard of anyone having a slow cooker fire in their house (outside of tear-jerker tv shows, that is), so I really don't think there's anything to worry about.

Temperatures on slow cookers vary between 170 and 200 degrees, and they're actually safer than ovens and stovetops, because of the lower temperatures and closed lids. And I can't emphasize enough how wonderful it is to come home to a hot cooked meal. And, bonus: there's only one pot that needs to be washed after dinner!

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I donated my crock pot once I received an Instant Pot, so that's what I use for slow cooking I now wish I hadn't gotten rid of it, but my kitchen was overflowing with too many small appliances.

cauliflower, stock, curry paste, garlic, coconut milk, tofu, peppers, lime, onion, green beans, and cashews

How to Make Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry

This curry is extremely easy to make! I like to chop my vegetables the night before, so it's all ready to go in the morning. (I'm just not a morning person!)

First you mix the coconut milk, vegetable stock, and red curry paste together in your slow cooker.
Then you add the onion, garlic, cauliflower, green beans, bell pepper, tofu, and salt.
Cook your curry on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Just before serving, mix the dried chiles and lime juice into your curry.
Serve your curry over brown rice, if using, and top with the toasted cashews.

Baked Tofu

I use baked tofu in this recipe, as I've found that pressed extra firm tofu and fall apart in the slow cooker. If you don't mind that, you can use it instead. I like to use my favorite baked tofu recipe, but store-bought baked tofu can also be used.

Curry Paste

Red curry paste is made with red chili pepper, garlic, lemongrass, shallots, cilantro, and kaffir lime. Sometimes fish or shrimp is added, so make sure you check the label, even when buying a brand you've purchased before. (Formulas change and manufacturers don't always make it clear on the front label.) I like Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste. It can usually be found in the Asian aisle of the grocery store.

How to Toast Cashews

To toast your nuts, place a large, dry (no oil) frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the nuts and cook, stirring frequently, until they are golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. They can also be roasted in a 400°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them, because they go from no-yet-done to totally burnt in a matter of seconds.

How to Customize Your Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry

You can easily make this recipe your own.

If you're worried that the onion will have too much of a bite, you can sauté it before adding it to your slow cooker.
The garlic can also be lightly sautéed before adding it to the slow cooker.
If you don't like cauliflower or green beans, you can try carrots or sweet potatoes.
Yellow or green curry paste can be used instead of red.
If you like your curry spicy, you can add the dried chiles to the crock pot at the beginning.
I like to serve my curry with brown rice, but you can serve it as is or with noodles.

one bowl of slow cooker vegetable curry overheard with rice, onion, lime, peppers, and garlic

How to Make Vegetable Curry on the Stovetop

If you don't have a slow cooker, you can make this recipe on your stovetop.

First you heat about a teaspoon of vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat and cook the onion for about 5 minutes, until it begins to brown.
Then you add the garlic and cook for another minute or two longer, until it turns fragrant.
Next you stir in the coconut milk, vegetable stock, curry paste, tofu and salt.
Then you stir in the cauliflower, green beans, and bell pepper.
You bring the curry up to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are fork-tender.
Once the curry is done, you stir in the lime juice and dried chiles, if you're using them.
Serve your curry over brown rice, if using, topped with toasted cashews.

two bowls of slow cooker vegetable curry with rice and cashews

one bowl of curry with peppers and limes

Slow Cooker Curry with Tofu and Veggies

Too busy after work to make dinner? Place all of the ingredients for this Slow Cooker Curry with Tofu and Veggies in your crockpot in the morning, and dinner will be ready when you get home!

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 8 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Thai

Servings 4 servings

Calories 211 kcal

Slow Cooker

1 14-ounce can coconut milk
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tablespoons red curry paste
½ cup red onion chopped
1 clove garlic minced
½ head cauliflower chopped into bite sized pieces (about 3 cups)
1 cup green beans cut into 1" segments
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 recipe Baked Tofu or 14-ounces store-bought baked tofu
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon lime juice
a few dried Thai red chili peppers optional
¼ cup cashews toasted
4 cups cooked brown rice for serving optional

Mix the coconut milk, vegetable stock, and red curry paste together in your slow cooker. Add the onion, garlic, cauliflower, green beans, bell pepper, tofu, and salt. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Just before serving, mix the dried chiles and lime juice into the curry.
Serve over brown rice, if using, and top with the toasted cashews.

Calories: 211 kcal

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two bowls of curry with peppers, onion, and lime

Originally published January 19, 2012. Revised September 26, 2021

More Slow Cooker Recipes You Might Like Include:

Slow Cooker Seitan Stew
Slow Cooker Chickpea Cacciatore
Vegan Kung Pao from The Vegan Slow Cookerby Kathy Hester
Black Eyed Pea Chili from The Plant-Based Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson

More Curry Style Recipes You Might Enjoy Include:

Pumpkin Curry
Coconut Curry Noodles and Butternut Squash from One-Dish Vegan by Robin Robertson
Thai Sweet Potato Curry from The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook by Jenn Sebestyen
Green Curry with Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes

two bowls of curry with carrots, garlic, and onion

About Dianne

Dianne Wenz is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Vegan Lifestyle Coach, Plant-Based Diet Nutrition Specialist, and Plant-Based Chef, as well as the author of Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook.

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