MAE PLOY RED CURRY PASTE RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Cut dried chiles into 1/4-inch pieces with kitchen shears and soak in warm water until softened, about 20 minutes. Drain well in a sieve.
• While chiles soak, toast coriander in a dry small heavy skillet over moderate heat, shaking skillet, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes, then cool. Thinly slice lower 6 inches of lemongrass stalks and finely chop.
• Finely grind coriander and peppercorns with mortar and pestle (or in mini food processor), about 2 minutes, then toss together with lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, cilantro, shallot, garlic, fresh chiles, and soaked dried chiles in a bowl. Pound mixture in 3 batches with mortar and pestle until a fairly smooth paste is formed, 8 to 10 minutes per batch, transferring to cleaned bowl. (If using food processor, add about 1 1/2 tablespoons water per batch.) Return all of curry paste to mortar, then add shrimp paste and salt and pound (or pulse) until combined well, about 1 minute.

Steps:

• Cut onion, bell pepper, and eggplant into bite size pieces and set aside. (I like large chunks on my spoon, so I don’t cut them too small).
• Shred carrots with a vegetable peeler and set aside.
• Cut tomatoes in half and set aside.
• Cut chicken into bite size pieces and set aside.
• Pour the oil into a five-quart pot and put over medium heat.
• When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the Thai Red Curry Paste and stir, sautéing for about 2 minutes. (I like my Thai Red Curry the same as I ate it in Thailand, very spicy. Therefore, I use about 6 to 8 tablespoons of curry paste. My guess is most people would use about five. Any less, what's the point? Use your judgment for what you like.).
• Add the coconut milk and chicken stock, then throw the chicken bullion cube in the pot and stir.
• After the liquid begins to boil, add the vegetables, carrots, and tomatoes.
• Add sugar, lemon juice, sweet basil leaves, and crushed basil, then bring to a boil again. (I usually turn the heat down and allow the vegetables to cook for about five minutes or so before adding the chicken.).
• Add the chicken and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for about five more minutes.
• Serve with hot Jasmine rice.