Red Curry Paste

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 10 -12 hot dried red chilies (of the long cayenne variety)
• 5 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemongrass, that has been thinly sliced crossways
• 3 slices galangal (thin slices, fresh or frozen) or 3 slices ginger (thin slices, fresh or frozen)
• 1 slice fresh kaffir lime rind (i've never used it)
• 6 -8 coriander roots, washed well and coarsely chopped
• fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon shrimp paste, chopped or 1/4 teaspoon anchovy, from a can chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 2 tablespoons bright red paprika

Recipe

• 1 soak the chillies in 5 tablespoons hot water for 1-2 hours. (you could also put them in a microwave oven for 2-3 minutes and then let them sit for 20-30 minutes).
• 2 put the chillies together with their soaking liquid, into a blender, along with all the remaining ingredients in the order listed.
• 3 blend, pushing down with a rubber spatula as many times as necessary, until you have a smooth paste.
• 4 what you do not use immediately should be refrigerated or frozen.