Red curry paste recipe

Ingredients

10 large dried red chillies
1 stalk lemongrass, white section only, sliced
2cm piece galangal, sliced
Rind of 1 kaffir lime
1 eschallot, sliced
7 cloves garlic
1 cm piece fresh turmeric, sliced
1 tbs shrimp paste
2 to 3 red birds eye chillies
½ cup water

Preparation

Soak dried chillies in warm water for 10 minutes until soft. Drain and place into a blender with remaining ingredients. Process until it forms a smooth paste.

Fry paste in vegetable oil for 10 minutes to remove the raw taste. Spoon into a clean dry jar and store in the refrigerator.

Thai green chicken curry

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 tbs sunflower oil
• 2 baby eggplants, halved lengthways, cut into 2cm pieces
• 2-3 tbs green curry paste (see related recipe), to taste
• 500g skinless chicken thigh fillets, cut into 3cm pieces
• 2 cups (500ml) coconut cream
• 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock
• 4 kaffir lime leaves (see note), roughly torn, plus
• 2 finely shredded leaves to garnish
• 125g fresh baby corn, halved lengthways
• 2 tbs fish sauce
• 1 tbs lime juice
• 2 tsp grated palm sugar (see note)
• Sliced red chilli & Thai basil (see note), to garnish
• Steamed jasmine rice, to serve

Method

1. Heat oil in a wok or deep frypan over high heat. Add eggplant and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until golden. Set eggplant aside.
2. Add paste to wok and stir briefly. Add chicken and stir-fry, tossing to ensure paste doesn't burn, for 2-3 minutes until seared. Add coconut cream, stock, lime leaves and corn and bring to the boil. Return eggplant to pan, then reduce heat to low and simmer for a further 5 minutes until chicken is cooked and corn is just tender. Stir in fish sauce, lime juice and sugar and heat through for 1 minute.
3. Garnish with red chilli, extra lime leaves and Thai basil.
   Serve with steamed rice.
    

Thai Green Curry Paste

Thai green curry paste is surprisingly easy to make, and it's so much healthier & fresher-tasting than the store-bought variety. Added to your favorite meats or seafood, noodles, vegetables, tofu, or wheat gluten, this paste will create sumptuous curries. Or use it to make delicious soups or noodle dishes. Cook with the paste right away, or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and use it as you need it. The paste can also be frozen for future use. Enjoy!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 1 cup (enough for 1 large curry)

Ingredients:

• 1 stalk lemongrass, minced OR 3 Tbsp. prepared frozen or bottled lemongrass (available at Asian stores)
• 1-3 green chilies, sliced (Thai green chilies OR jalapeno)
• 1 shallot, sliced, OR 4 Tbsp. minced purple onion
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• 1 thumb-size piece of galangal OR ginger, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander/cilantro leaves & stems
• 1/2 cup fresh basil
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper (available in most supermarket spice aisles)
• 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
• 3 Tbsp. fish sauce; Vegetarians: substitute 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. shrimp paste (available at Asian stores); Vegetarians: substitute 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 3-4 Tbsp. coconut milk (enough to blend ingredients together)

Preparation:

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor, chopper, or blender.
2. Process well to form a fragrant Thai green curry paste. Taste-test it for salt and spice. If too salty, add a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice. Add more chili for more heat. Your curry paste is now ready to be used. You can bottle up any leftovers and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Freeze thereafter. ENJOY

To Make a Thai Green Curry with this Paste (+ More Cooking Tips):

• Heat a wok or large frying pan or pot over medium-high heat. Add 2-3 Tbsp. oil and swirl around, then add the green curry paste. Stir-fry until fragrant (1 minute), then add 1 cup stock plus your curry ingredients (meat, seafood, or tofu/wheat gluten + vegetables). Simmer until ingredients are cooked, gradually adding 1/2 to 1 can coconut milk until you're happy with the taste/thickness/amount of sauce.
• As you're cooking, you can also add 2-3 kaffir lime leaves (left whole) as well as any leftover lemongrass stalk pieces for even more flavor.
• When your curry is done, always perform a taste-taste for salt and spice. Add more fish or soy sauce if not salty enough, or some fresh-cut Thai red chilies if not spicy enough (OR add some dried crushed chili). If too spicy, add more coconut milk. If too salty or sweet, add a squeeze of lime juice. If too sour for your taste, add a touch more sugar. Finish your curry by sprinkling over generous amounts of fresh basil.
• This paste is also excellent added to noodles, soups, or used as a marinade for fish, shellfish or chicken. For beef, I find it best to make it into a curry (as noted above), slicing the meat very thinly and adding vegetables like eggplant and chopped tomatoes. ENJOY!