Paneangcurrypaste Recipes

AUTHENTIC THAI PANANG CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Slice the top off large and small chillies and remove the seeds. If using fresh chilli: chop finely. If using dried chilli: Slice into small rings and soak in water for 40 mins to soften. Drain and squeeze out all the liquid (use gloves to avoid getting spicy chilli on yourself). Chop finely and set aside.
• In a medium frying pan, gently toast all spices over a low to medium heat for a 1-2 minutes, starting with the biggest and gradually adding in the others, through to the smallest. Order should be cinnamon, star anise, cardamom pods, cloves, coriander seeds, whole black pepper seeds and finally cumin seeds.
• Place all the toasted spices in a stone mortar and pestle, grind into a fine powder. Remove from mortar and pestle and set aside. Note: You can speed things up and use a spice grinder here, but a mortar will give you the best result.
• Add the remaining ingredients in the mortar and pestle - in sequence so that the most fibrous ingredients are added first - lemongrass, galangal (or ginger), kaffir lime rind, kaffir lime leaves, soaked large dried chillies (or fresh), soaked small dried chillies (or fresh), crushed peanuts, coriander root, shallots, garlic and finally shrimp paste. This will help you to achieve a smooth consistency. Note: You can speed things up and use a food processor here, but a mortar will give you the best result. If using a processor, you may need to add a little vegetable oil to help everything mix.
• Use a spoon to scrape the ingredients from the side of the mortar and pestle down to the centre as you go. Tip: If you have a small pestle, break up the mix into portions to make it easier when grinding the paste together.
• Finally add the spice powder and continue to pound until you obtain a smooth paste.

PANANG CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Place dried chiles in a medium bowl; cover with hot water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain; place chiles and all remaining ingredients in a mini-processor; process until paste forms. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 months ahead. Store airtight in freezer.

PANANG CURRY WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Fry the curry paste in the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat until fragrant. Stir the coconut milk into the curry paste and bring to a boil. Add the chicken; cook and stir until the chicken is nearly cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir the palm sugar, fish sauce, and lime leaves into the mixture; simmer together for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the saltiness by adding more fish sauce if necessary. Garnish with sliced red chile peppers and Thai basil leaves to serve.

PANANG CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Put everything into a food processor and blend until smooth. There will be green flecks from the cilantro. Taste, it should be tomato with a sharp after-bite of "heat". If it is too acid from the tomato paste, add more salt and pepper. Maybe it's not hot enough, add more sambal. If it's not herby enough, then add more cilantro and blend again. The ground caraway gives that low, back of the tongue smoothness to the curry. If you don't taste that, then add more caraway.
• So, you really should be able to taste all the ingredients both separately and as a whole, that is, you will be able to identify the flavors as being what they are within the context of the whole of the panang paste. Remember, this is the base for the dish, so it is going to be intense.

PANANG CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Place red chile peppers in a bowl and cover them with warm water. Let sit until rehydrated, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Place green chile peppers, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mace, and cardamom in a large, dry skillet over medium heat. Toast until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer red chile peppers and toasted spices to a mortar and pestle. Add shallots, garlic, lemongrass, cilantro root, peppercorns, lime leaves, galangal, shrimp paste, and salt. Pound together into a coarse paste.

PANANG CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Place dried chiles in a medium bowl; cover with hot water and soak for 15 minutes.
• Drain; place chiles and all remaining ingredients in a mini-processor; process until paste forms.
• Place on sheet in tablespoon lumps to freeze. Then place in airtight bag. Can be made 2 months ahead.

PANANG CURRY

Steps:

• Put some water on to boil for your spaghetti/rice/noodles, and cook as per instructions. Put half the coconut milk into a wok and fry for 3-5 mins, stirring continuously, until the coconut oil begins to separate out.
• Then add the curry paste and fry for 1-2 mins, until you get the aroma of the paste.
• Add the pork and cook until the outside is cooked.
• Then add the rest of the thick coconut milk and bring to the boil.
• Simmer and add the palm sugar along the side of the wok until it melts.
• Then add the soy sauce, fish sauce and lime leaf pieces.
• Stir to combine (if using) add half the basil leaves.
• Turn off the heat and serve garnished with the shredded lime leaves, red chillies, coconut milk and (if using) the remaining basil leaves.