Tag: shrimp paste
Malaysian Style Pork Coconut Curry
If you are in the mood for a really, really yummy dish and don’t mind turning the oven on for a few hours- this recipe is for you… truly one of my favorites…I had a version of this at a yummy Singaporean restaurant in the city and I still dream of the yumminess….
- 3 tablespoons peanut oil
- 2-3 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2 inch pieces with excess fat taken off
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- Salt
- 1 star anise
- 3 to 4 cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 10 to 12 curry leaves
Spice Paste
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 cup chopped shallots
- 3 to 4 dried red chilies, seeds taken out and soaked in hot water for 10 minutes
- 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tablespoon shrimp paste (Asian store)
- 2 lemongrass (white part), chopped
Process all spice paste ingredients in a food processor until a paste is formed. Keep aside.
- 1 can full fat coconut milk
- 3 to 4 cups chicken broth
- 3 to 4 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
- Salt
- Sugar
Heat a large, heavy saucepan with the peanut oil. In the meantime, dredge the pork pieces in the flour and then sprinkle them with a bit of salt. Brown the pieces in the hot oil, in batches for at least 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Set the pork aside and add the star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick and curry leaves. Saute on medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the spice paste and sauté on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the pork pieces, coconut milk and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer and cook with the lid on for at least 3 to 4 hours. Add the potatoes half an hour before serving. Reduce the gravy according to taste and serve with coconut rice.
Penang Curry- My Version
A great version to make at home…
Curry Paste
- 2 to 3 dried chilies, soaked in warm water until soft and seeds removed
- 1 inch galangal, grated
- 3 to 4 stalks lemongrass, grated
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 small shallots
- 2 tablespoons cilantro stems
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ cup peanuts
- 1 teaspoon shrimp paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
Roast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and peanuts in a small frying pan till aromatic, about 2 to 3 minutes. Take out and grind in a spice grinder. Add to a mortar and pestle. Add the soft red chilies to the spices in the mortar and pestle.
Add the grated galanga, lemongrass, cilantro stems, garlic and shallots to a small food processor and process till smooth. Add the mixture to the mortar and pestle. Add the shrimp paste to the whole mixture and pound the paste till incorporated together and relatively smooth. Add the salt and keep aside.
- 1 can low-fat coconut milk
- 3 to 4 kaffir lime leaves, sliced thin
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breast, sliced thin on a bias
- 1 cup haricot verts (green beans), cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon palm sugar
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- Juice and zest of one lime
- ½ cup basil, shredded
Heat a saucepan on medium heat and add the curry paste. Add ¼ cup of coconut milk and sauté on medium heat while stirring constantly. Make sure the milk does not burn. Keep adding as the liquid evaporates and more is needed. This should take about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the beans and bring to a boil and cook for a minutes. Add the chicken and bring to a boil. Simmer and add the lime leaves, palm sugar, fish sauce, juice and zest of the lime. Mix well and check for seasonings. Turn off as soon as the chicken is cooked through. Garnish with basil and serve with rice.