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The Hirshon Thai Jungle Curry – แกงป่าปลาขูด


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  • Author: The Generalissimo

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • For curry paste:
  • 20 fresh Thai birds' eye chilies (red or green), chopped
  • 5 dried Anaheim chilies, boiled first then chopped
  • 5 dried Chiles de Arbol chilies, boiled first then chopped
  • 4 shallots, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 1 Tbsp chopped galangal
  • 1 lemongrass, pale bottom part only, chopped
  • 1/2 Tbsp fermented shrimp paste (interchangeable with the Malaysian belachan)
  • 1 tsp chopped kaffir lime peel - if unavailable, use microplaned regular lime zest
  • 1 coriander root (or substitute with twice the amount of coriander stems)
  • 1 tsp fresh turmeric (or substitute with dried)
  • 1 tsp White pepper - toasted in a dry skillet until fragrant
  • 1 Tbsp ground coriander seed - toasted in a dry skillet until fragrant
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin - toasted in a dry skillet until fragrant
  • 1 ginseng root from a ginseng herbal drink (if unavailable, just leave it out)
  • ***
  • For making curry:
  • 1 stalk of kaffir lime leaves (it comes in doubles), sliced very thinly
  • 2 Tbsp fish sauce - TFD strongly recommends Red Boat 50 brand
  • 2 1/2 tsp palm sugar (or use unrefined cane sugar)
  • 1 stalk fresh green peppercorns, available canned in Asian markets
  • 300g or 11 ounces of meat, sliced (chicken is common now, but wild Jungle boar was in the original recipe. Use whatever meat you like, or you can even make it vegetarian)
  • 2 handfuls of vegetables (Asian eggplants, carrots and string beans work well, but use whatever you like)
  • 1 handful of Thai holy basil leaves
  • 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
  • 2 Tbsp oil (unrefined palm or coconut oil)
  • Chicken stock or water - water is traditional, TFD prefers stock

Instructions

  1. Pound (or blend) all the ingredients for the curry paste. Jungle curry paste texture is supposed to be rougher than most, not totally smooth.
  2. This is the order for grinding or pounding:
    1. toasted white pepper, toasted coriander, toasted cumin
    2. cilantro root, galangal, ginseng, kaffir lime peel, lemongrass
    3. dried chilis, salt
    4. garlic, shallots, turmeric
    5.  shrimp paste
  3. Add the oil to a wok or pot, and add the curry paste. Fry over low heat till you can smell all that chili hitting your nostrils.
  4. Add some chicken stock (preferred) or water to stop burning, then the chicken, keep stirring till cooked.
  5. Increase the heat, and add the vegetables, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce and sugar bring to a boil and then let it simmer until everything is cooked. You may want to add water/reduce the curry till you reach your desired consistency.
  6. Finish off with the basil leaves and red bell pepper.