We love it when two great things come together, and that is why we love Thai pizza. Thai pizza combines the amazing flavors that make Thai food so special with classic pizza flavors. You may have tried Thai pizza at your local pizzeria or a frozen version from the supermarket.
But we are here to tell you that making Thai pizza at home is possible. You don’t have to be an expert in Thai cooking (although we wish we were) to put together a tasty Thai pizza. We want to share how to make Thai pizza three different ways.
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What is Thai Pizza?
Thai pizza combines classic Thai flavors like peanut sauce, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices to make a new type of pizza. If you have never had Thai pizza before, get ready to be impressed.
There are many different ways to make Thai pizza. The classic version of Thai pizza uses peanut sauce as a base, while others use curry or sweet and sour sauce. Thai toppings often include thinly sliced carrots, red peppers, and cucumbers with bean sprouts, and a grilled protein like chicken, shrimp, or pork.
Crushed peanuts and freshly torn cilantro or basil are adding just before serving.
While Thai food can be hot and spicy, it doesn’t have to be, and of course, when you are making it at home, you can choose to use extra crushed red pepper or whole chilis or not.
Most Thai restaurants in the U.S. offer diners a star system of spiciness. One star is mild, and five stars is Thai hot. We generally keep our Thai food at about level three, so it’s hot but not overwhelming.
We do the same with our Thai pizza, but you can remove the spice too. And if you accidentally over-spice your Thai pizza with extra heat, add some creamy Ranch dipping sauce or garlic sauce to cool down the spice.
How to Make Thai Pizza Three Ways
Thai pizza always has a thin crust. The thin crust suits the flavors well and keeps it crispy and fresh. You can buy premade thin crusts or use homemade pizza dough and a rolling pin to get that crust thin. The thin crust does best with a short par-bake before adding the sauce and toppings.
Classic Thai Chicken Pizza
We call this the classic Thai pizza because it is the one you will find on most menus. Also, there are some frozen versions available at certain supermarkets. The base is peanut sauce which you can buy or make yourself. We make our own peanut sauce and always make extra for homemade Pad Thai.
Peanut Sauce
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
Thai Toppings
- 1 cup grilled chicken breast cut into small pieces
- ½ cup of carrots cut into matchsticks
- ½ cup bean sprouts
- ½ cup green onions cut diagonally
- 2 Tablespoons of chopped or crushed peanuts
- 1 ¼ cup grated low-moisture mozzarella
Spread the peanut sauce on the par-baked crust. Add half of the cheese, chicken, and green onion. Then add the veggies and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese, chicken, and onions. Bake at 450ºF for eight to ten minutes. Before serving, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and crushed peanuts.
Thai Green Curry and Shrimp Pizza
This is a take on Thai green curry that is usually eaten as a soupy dish over white rice. But here, we make it a little thicker and then add it to a par-baked thin crust or flatbread.
Be careful not to make the curry too wet. If it’s too wet, it will make the pizza soggy. Use a slotted spoon to add the curry shrimp mixture to the crust. The sauce should coat the shrimp, and it’s the sauce for the pizza too.
- 3 Tablespoons of Thai green curry paste
- 1 can (13 oz) coconut cream
- 1 diced zucchini
- 1 red pepper cut into strips
- 1 pound of raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 Tablespoon of sugar
- Handful of fresh basil leaves
- ½ chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 fresh jalapenos cut lengthwise for garnish (optional)
- Lime wedges for serving
Add oil and onions to a sauté pan and cook on medium when onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for two minutes, then add green curry and coconut milk and stir together. Add vegetables and let cook for a few minutes, then add shrimp. Cook shrimp until it turns pink.
Remove from heat and let cool. When it has cooled, spoon it onto a flatbread or pizza crust. Be careful not to add too much liquid. The sauce should be fairly thick. Sprinkle on cheese. Add fresh basil leaves and jalapeños. Serve with many little lime wedges.
Dairy-Free and Vegan Versions
You can make this dairy-free; just leave off the cheese. The coconut green curry sauce is creamy. For a vegan version, leave out the shrimp and use extra veggies or baked tofu for a meatless meat. Bok choy, variety of mushrooms, peas, and green onions make good additions, too.
Just make sure the curry isn’t too heavy for the crust, of course.
Pad Kra Pao Moo (Stir-Fried Thai Basil & Pork)
This style of Thai pizza reminds us a bit of Turkish pizza because it uses ground or minced meat paste and doesn’t have cheese. We are using pork, but you could substitute it for beef or lamb or any other unusual meat. The recipe doesn’t usually have cheese, but since it’s pizza, you can add a neutral crumbly cheese like queso fresco, paneer, or even nutritional yeast.
Sauté the oil, garlic, and shallots for three minutes. Then add the chilies and cook for another three minutes. Turn the heat up to high, and add the ground pork. Use a spatula to break up the meat and let it cook to a crispy texture.
Add the sugar and sauces. Stir-fry for another minute and deglaze the pan with the broth. Add the holy basil leaves, and stir-fry until the leaves are wilted.
Spread mixture on flatbread or par-baked pizza crust. Sprinkle with fresh green onions. Serve with soy sauce and lime wedges.
Pro Tips for Making Thai Pizza
This dish uses Holy basil also known as Thai basil. It is different than sweet basil which is used in traditional Italian pizza. Holy basil has a different taste and it makes the dish authentic. Check your local international market for Holy basil. Or if you love Thai food and make it a lot get some Holy basil seeds and grow your own.
When it comes to Thai pizzas, there are so many ways to get those fantastic Thai flavors onto a pizza. These are our favorite ways to make Thai pizza, but we know there are many more.
And if you can’t tell, Thailand will always have a special place in our hearts. We’ve been there so many times over the years and even lived there for a few months before the pandemic in 2019-2020. Wish we were still there!
Have you had Thai pizza before? What’s your favorite way to make Thai pizza?
