Which Thai curry is literally “forest curry” or “jungle curry”?

The Thai curry literally called “forest curry” or “jungle curry” is kaeng pa.

The name refers to the curry’s association with Thailand’s forested regions. Unlike many internationally familiar Thai curries, traditional kaeng pa usually contains no coconut milk. The explanation commonly given is that coconuts were not naturally available in the northern forests where the dish developed.

Kaeng pa is typically a thin, intensely spicy curry rather than a rich, creamy one. Its paste and broth may include chilies, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime peel or leaves, garlic, green peppercorns, and pea eggplant.

Wild boar was traditionally used, reflecting the dish’s forest setting, but pork and chicken are now common. Some modern versions do contain coconut milk, so the absence of coconut is a traditional characteristic rather than an absolute rule for every contemporary recipe.