Red Curry Paste

makes 125 gm

ingredients

• 3 - 4 dried long red chillies - about 13cm long

• 8 - 10 dried small red chillies or 10 fresh small chillies seeded

• 2 lemongrass stalks, white part only, finely sliced

• 2.5cm piece of galangal finely sliced

• 1 tsp kaffir lime skin or 4 -5 leaves finely sliced

• 4 - 5 garlic cloves finely chopped

• 3 - 4 asian shallots or 2 eschallots finely chopped

• 5 - 6 coriander roots finely chopped

• 2 tsp shrimp paste

• 1 tsp ground coriander dry roasted

• salt and pepper

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method

• Remove the stems from the dried chillies and slit them lengthways. Discard seeds and soak them in hot water for 1 -2 minutes until soft. Drain and chop roughly

• Using a pestle and mortar, pound the chillies, lemon grass, galangal, kaffir. You can also use a food processor and may use a little oil as needed to assist the blending

• Add the remaining ingredients and pound together until smooth