Laksa
Laksa has basically become a national dish in Australia. Sure, you could go out for it, but this is one of those meals that is soooo satisfying to learn to make yourself. As you will see, some of the quantities are deliberately vague. Just use whatever veg are kicking around in your fridge and allow 50–75 grams of noodles (dry weight) per person. Dried rice vermicelli or fresh hokkien or rice noodles are all good.
Ingredients 26
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp curry powder
3 tbsp fish sauce
50 g palm sugar (jaggery)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp Maggi seasoning sauce
600 ml coconut milk
600 ml chicken stock, or vegetable stock
6 kaffir lime leaves
mixed vegetables, of your choice, such as zucchini, courgette, carrot, baby corn, potato, snow peas, mangetout, or bok choy, chopped as needed
lime juice, to taste, optional
Handful coriander and Thai basil leaves, each, roughly chopped
noodles, cooked according to the packet instructions, drained
Curry Paste
1⁄2 tsp fennel seeds
1 1⁄2 tbsp coriander seeds
1⁄2 tsp cumin seeds
2 green cardamom pods, seeds only
8 dried red chillies, soaked in hot water until softened, seeds removed for less heat
1 stem lemongrass, white part only, finely chopped
3 cm pieces galangal, grated
3 cm pieces turmeric, grated
150 g shallots, peeled, roughly chopped
8 ‒ 10 cloves garlic, peeled, roughly chopped
4 cm pieces ginger, peeled and grated
1⁄2 bunch coriander, roots cleaned, roughly chopped
1 tbsp belacan paste, optional
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Method 3
To make the curry paste, toast the , , , and in a dry frying pan until aromatic. Remove and cool, then grind to a fine powder. Place the ground spices, , , , , , , , , and (if using) in a high-powered blender and blend to a fairly smooth paste. Add a tiny splash of water if needed to help blend. Add the spice powder and blitz again to combine.
Heat the in a wok over a medium–low heat, add the curry paste (freeze the rest for another day) and cook for a few minutes until it no longer smells raw. Add the , , , and and stir until the sugar has melted. Cook for a few minutes, then add the , , and mixed vegetables and simmer gently until the veggies are just cooked.
Taste and add a squeeze of lime if needed and finish with the . Serve in bowls over the noodles. Nasturtium flowers make for nice photos, but are not essential.
