Aromatic Malaysian Curry Laksa with Prawns and Coconut Milk

Name: Aromatic Malaysian Curry Laksa with Prawns and Coconut Milk
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Garlic; Lemongrass; Red chilies; Shallots; Ginger; Ground turmeric; Shrimp paste; Vegetable oil; Chicken broth; Coconut milk; Fish sauce; Kaffir lime leaves; Sugar; Salt; Rice vermicelli noodles; Prawns; Tofu puffs; Bean sprouts; Hard-boiled eggs; Lime; Fresh cilantro leaves; Sliced red chili

A fragrant and flavorful Malaysian noodle soup

This Curry Laksa is a luscious, spicy, and aromatic dish featuring plump prawns, silky coconut milk, and savory spices, all enveloped in a comforting broth with noodles.

1 h 30 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Curry Paste

Garlic

4 cloves, peeled

Lemongrass

2 stalks, trimmed and chopped

Red chilies

3, deseeded

Shallots

5, peeled

Ginger

1-inch piece, peeled

Ground turmeric

1 teaspoon

Shrimp paste

1 teaspoon

Vegetable oil

2 tablespoons

For the Laksa Broth

Chicken broth

4 cups

Coconut milk

2 cups

Fish sauce

2 tablespoons

Kaffir lime leaves

Sugar

1 teaspoon

Salt

to taste

For the Noodles and Toppings

Rice vermicelli noodles

200g

Prawns

250g, peeled and deveined

Tofu puffs

2, sliced

Bean sprouts

1 cup

Hard-boiled eggs

2, halved

For Garnishes

Lime

1, cut into wedges

Fresh cilantro leaves

Sliced red chili

Preparation

Creating the Curry Paste

Combine ingredients

Combine garlic, lemongrass, red chilies, shallots, ginger, turmeric, shrimp paste, and vegetable oil in a blender.

Blend paste

Blend until smooth, forming a paste.

Set aside

Set aside the paste for later use.

Preparing the Laksa Broth

Heat oil

In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat.

Sauté paste

Add the curry paste and sauté for 5 minutes until fragrant.

Simmer broth

Stir in the chicken broth, coconut milk, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, and sugar. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Avoid bringing the coconut milk to a rapid boil to prevent curdling. Infuse the broth with fresh kaffir lime leaves for enhanced citrus notes.

Cooking Process

Simmering the Broth

Gradually integrate all the broth ingredients with the curry paste and simmer gently.

Cooking the Noodles

Cook rice vermicelli noodles according to package instructions; drain, and set aside.

Assembling the Laksa

Add prawns to the broth, cook until opaque, then assemble with noodles and toppings.

Plating & Serving