Laksa Udang

February 17th, 2009

Ingredients:
500 g of cooked king prawns
500 ml coconut milk
1 packet of thin noodles (vermicelli)
1 medium onion
1 tablespoon of Thai sweet chili sauce
1 teaspoon ketumbar (coriander)
2 tablespoon of peanut  oil
Crushed garlic
2 small chopped fresh chilies (optional)

Preparation:
1. Remove the heads and shell the prawns (keep the heads and shells for making the stock) and remove the veins.
2. In a saucepan, heat a tablespoon of the oil and when very hot, drop in the prawn heads and shells and cook over a high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent them burning. This is the basis of the stock.
3. After 5 minutes, add 4 cups of water to the saucepan, bring to the boil and then turn down the heat and simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain the liquid stock into a bowl.
4. Finely dice the onion and in a frying pan with a table spoon of oil, cook until transparent, and then add the teaspoon of garlic. Cook for a another minute and then remove from the heat.
5. In another saucepan, heat a little oil, add the cooked onion and garlic and then add the cumin, coriander, sweet chili sauce, a pinch of salt, and half a teaspoon of sugar. If you like it to be spicy, now also add the finely chopped chilies, including the seeds. Stir well and then add the prawn stock and bring to the boil.
6. Reduce the heat to stop it boiling and then add the coconut milk and continue to heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. After 15 minutes, add the prawns – they are already cooked so they only need to be heated in the soup. If you cook them for too long they will become very tough.
7. Whilst the soup is simmering, in a another large saucepan or pot of boiling water, add 1 tablespoon of oil and if you wish, a pinch or two of salt. Add the noodles and boil until cooked, about 10 minutes.
8. Strain the noodles and then serve into individual bowls and then pour in the soup (sharing the prawns evenly of course). You can also add some bite sized pieces of fresh bread into the soup.

Laksa Lemak

February 17th, 2009

Ingredients:
Sambal
4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1-2 bird chilies
1 large onion, diced
2-inch piece of ginger or galangal, peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons shrimp paste (optional)
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 stalks fresh lemongrass, peeled and diced, or zest of 1 lemon
Noodles:
Firm tofu
1 teaspoon oil
6-8 ounces udon noodles
1 egg, hard-boiled
1 cup canned light coconut milk
1 cup chicken stock
1-1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
4 ounces raw shrimp, peeled and de-veined
4 ounces raw scallops
1 cup bean sprouts

Preparation:
1. In blender or food processor, purée garlic, chilies, onion, ginger, 1 teaspoon shrimp paste, curry powder and lemongrass until mixture forms liquid paste. Add a few teaspoons of water if necessary. Set aside.
2. Slice tofu into squares about 1-inch wide and 1/4-inch thick. In a nonstick pan, lightly fry in oil until edges are golden. Pat with paper towel to remove excess oil and set aside.
3. Boil udon noodles and set aside.
4. Slice hard-boiled egg; set aside.
5. Pour sambal into wok or soup pot and simmer on medium heat until bubbly and fragrant.
6. Add coconut milk, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Add salt and 1 teaspoon shrimp paste.
7. Add seafood and tofu. Stir until cooked, about 4 minutes.
8. In individual bowls, put 1/2 cup noodles, some bean sprouts and a slice of egg. Cover with seafood soup. Serve immediately.

Laksa Ayam

February 17th, 2009

Ingredients:
Olive oil
2 onions
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 flat teaspoon grated root ginger
Turmeric
Chinese all spice
Thai seasoning
Chili and lemongrass (fresh or dried)
One large tin coconut milk
1 packet instant noodles, without the seasoning
Chicken stock
Chicken flesh
Chopped broccoli or other green vegetables

Preparation:
1. Before you start, prepare your chicken stock. Boil 1 chicken in plenty of water until cooked.
2. Remove flesh, discard skin and boil the bones again with salt for a couple of hours.
3. Chop the onions, fry in olive oil until soft.
4. Add garlic and ginger.
5. Add turmeric, all spice and Thai seasoning and fry until fragrant.
6. Add stock, coconut milk and coriander and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Add the chicken and broccoli and simmer until the broccoli is cooked.
8. Add the noodles and cook until noodles are soft.