Stanleys Laksa Paste Recipes

SEAFOOD LAKSA

Steps:

• Start by soaking your vermicelli in a large bowl of boiling water for about 8-10 minutes until cooked. Drain, and then rinse through with cold water to prevent it from sticking together.
• Next make your garnish by mixing the vinegar and sugar together until the sugar dissolves, then mixing in the chilli, cucumber and red onion. Put to one side.
• Whilst your noodles are soaking, make your Laksa paste. Heat the oil in a medium-to-large pan, and add the chopped onions. Cook on medium for about 5 minutes until the onions soften and start to turn translucent. Add in the rest of the Laksa paste ingredients, stir and continue to cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring every now and then. Then carefully use a stick blender to blend the ingredients into a paste. You could also use a mini chopper to do this.
• Add the coconut milk and stock to the paste and gently heat through. Then add in your fish, stir, and allow to cook for 2-4 minutes until the fish is starting to fall apart. Add in your prawns, stir, and cook for an extra one minute. The prawns should be starting to turn pink, and your fish should be cooked. Finally add in the beansprouts and cook for another minute.
• Whilst your fish and beansprouts are cooking, divide your noodles between the bowls. Scoop the fish, prawns and beansprouts out of the soup, and spoon them over the noodles. Then gently pour or spoon the sauce over and around the noodles.
• Garnish with a sprinkle of coriander and a teaspoon of the chilli/red onion/cucumber mix.

LAKSA

Steps:

• Add the fish, ginger, tamarind apple, and a teaspoon of salt into a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes, until the fish is cooked through. Turn off the heat, then take out the fish and reserve the cooking water.
• Debone the fish and weigh the meat (you should get about 200 g). Put the heads and the bones into a blender, add the cooking water, and blend. After straining the mixture, reserve the liquid and discards the solids.
• Add the strained liquid into a clean blender jug. Put the fish meat in, then blend until smooth.
• For the gravy, soak the dried chilies in hot water for about 15 minutes, until softened. Rinse and remove the majority of the seeds. In a blender, blend the softened chilies, shallots, shrimp paste, and 75 ml of water.
• Pour the chili mixture into a large saucepan, add 300 ml of water and slices of tamarind apple, daun kesum, and ginger. Season with salt and sugar, then bring to a boil. After simmering for approximately 10 minutes over a low flame, add the blended fish, then simmer for 10 more minutes. Add some more seasonings, if needed, and remove from the heat.
• Cook the noodles according to the package directions, then strain. Slice, then nicely arrange the garnishes on a serving platter.
• When ready to serve, reheat the gravy. Add some noodles into shallow soup bowls and cover them with hot gravy. Garnish with the prepared ingredients and serve at once.

STANLEY'S LAKSA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring chicken stock and coconut milk to a boil. Stir in laksa paste, and let simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Pass mixture through a chinois or a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Transfer to a second saucepan, and keep warm over medium-low heat. Add bean curd, and cook for 3 minutes.
• Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add shrimp, and sear on both sides until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove, and set aside.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil; add salt. Add noodles, and heat through. Drain, and divide among four large soup bowls. Pour soup over noodles, and top with bean sprouts, shrimp, and herb leaves. Serve immediately.

STANLEY'S LAKSA PASTE

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine lemongrass, garlic, turmeric, galangal, ginger, candlenuts, onion, chiles, shrimp paste, and 1/2 cup water. Process to form a smooth paste.
• In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add paste mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until golden and aromatic, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and add palm sugar, stirring to dissolve. May be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.