Thai Laksa with Prawns Recipe

I decided yesterday to make Thai Laksa from scratch. Normally I would buy the Laksa and simply add coconut milk and some water but it always felt like I was cheating the recipe.

The following is a list of ingredients which will easily feed two people.

Ingredients for the Paste:

1/2 brown onion - finely chopped

3 cm ginger - finely chopped

1 cloves of garlic - finely chopped

1 stalk of lemon grass - white segment only - sliced

3 fresh chillies

2 macadamia nuts - crushed

1/2 tbs of shrimp paste

3 leaves of fresh mint

1/2 tsp turmeric 

1/2 tsp ground coriander 

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tbs of vegetable oil

Ingredients for Laksa Soup:

1/4 brown onion - finely chopped

5 cm ginger - finely chopped

150g bean sprouts

1 tsp of vegetable oil

1 lemongrass stalk

200 g fresh prawns

600 ml chicken stock 

2 tbs fish sauce

1 tbs sugar

3 cups of baby spinach leaves

200ml coconut milk

2 limes

150 g of rice or egg noodles

Step 1 - Cook the rice noodles

Prepare a pot of boiling water and throw in the noodles. Cook the noodles for about two minutes or however long it's recommended on the package. Pour out the hot water and rinse the noodles under cold water. Pour out the cold water and set the noodles aside.

Step 2 - Make the Laksa Paste

Take the ingredients listed under Paste Ingredients and one by one grind them in a mortar with a heavy pestle. If you don't have one like me you can use a food processor. Grind everything until it turns into a thick paste. If you feel it is getting too dry add more vegetable oil. 

Step 3 - Create the Laksa

Pour in the vegetable oil into a frying pan on medium heat. Add the onion and ginger. Fry for about 2 minutes and add the prawns. Fry the prawns until they're almost cooked. Now add the chicken stock, coconut milk, lemon grass, fish sauce, and sugar. Bring to boil and reduce the heat to low. Add the spinach and the bean sprouts. Cook for about 1 minute and squeeze in two limes. 

Step 4 - Serve!

Place the noodles we prepared earlier into a large bowl. Pour the Laksa on top. Garnish with some coriander leaves and lime wedges.