Malaysian Curry Laksa with Chicken and Prawns

Sachie’s Malaysian Curry Laksa with chicken and prawns as published in the NZ Herald Bite Magazine 12 August 2013

There many variations of laksa in Malaysia and the most common ones are Asam Laksa which is a sour clear soup with Mackerel, and Coconut Curry Laksa which is I am going to share! You might be overwhelmed by the list of ingredients, but trust me this is worth it!  Once you have made the paste, then the rest is easy!

Serves:     2-3

Preparation Time: 20 minutes (this can be shorten if you use food processor)

Cooking Time:   35 minutes

Ingredients:

Laksa Paste (this will make 8-9 Tbsp paste):

8 dried red chili, soaked in warm water for 5 min

2 fresh red chili, chopped
2 tsp shrimp paste
4-5 clove garlic, chopped
2 medium sized shallot, chopped
3 tsp brown sugar
1 stalk of lemongrass (white part only), chopped
2-3 slices of galangal, chopped (or ginger)
pinch of salt

Laksa soup:

8-9 Tbsp laksa Paste

1/2 tsp chili powder
4 Tbsp Cooking oil
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
2 cup chicken stock, salt reduced
2 Tbsp Fish sauce

Other Ingredients:

50g Dry Rice vermicelli

100g fresh Egg noodle

150g Chicken, sliced into small size

9 Prawn cutlet

Tofu puffs (optional)

Garnish (optional):

Mungbean

Coriander

How to cook:

1. To make the Laksa paste, pound all of the laksa paste ingredients in a mortar and pestle until the texture becomes nice and smooth (you can use a food processor but you will have more flavour if you use mortar and pestle).
2. Place a wok or a large pot over medium-high heat and add oil. Wait until the oil warms up and add all of the laksa paste. Stir and cook the paste for 5-6 minutes or until it changes the colour to a darker red and see oil on surface of the paste. Add chili powder and stir well.
3. Add coconut milk and cook for 20-25 minutes over medium heat or until the red colour oil starts to come out on the surface. Stir occasionally.
4. Once you have oil on the surface of the paste, add chicken stock, bring to boil and season with fish sauce.
5. Add chicken, prawn and tofu puffs and cook for further 3-4 minutes or until chicken is cooked.
6. In the meantime, cook vermicelli and egg noodle as per package. Place the rice vermicelli and Egg noodle in a serving bowl. Pour the Laksa soup on top and garnish with mungbean and fresh coriander before you serve!

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