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Massaman Curry Paste. My family loves curry and, in the UK we would often go to a restaurant where we would enjoy trying different styles of curry. Living in the middle of the countryside, and far from a large city, it was to be expected that I wouldn't be able to pop out for a curry! In fact, I've never seen an Indian restaurant here. We soon decided after moving here that we would need our curry fix so I arranged a cookery course at the French home of the lovely Reza Mahammad.
Since then I have been making curry from scratch every week. I now have three masala dabbas and could probably fill another!
For a change I fancied making a Massaman curry but had no idea how to make it. Every recipe I looked at seemed to have a different slant and I also can't get some of the ingredients. So here is my version and apologies in advance to any of my readers who are experts in the land of Massaman curry...
Start the paste by soaking the chillies in hot water from the kettle. Peel the shallots, garlic and ginger, (galangal if you can find it) and rough chop. After 10 minutes drain the chillies, deseed and chop. Place the lot with the coriander, oil, shrimp paste lemon juice and zest in a small food processor bowl. Of course, if you can find lemon grass use 2 stalks.
Gather together the spices and dry fry them with peanuts until you can smell them. Be careful that they do not burn. I've used cinnamon stick, coriander and cumin seeds, cloves and cardamom pods.
Pound the spices together.
Add to the processor and blitz until combined.
This makes about a jam jar size which is enough for 2 large curries. As it has fresh ingredients use the paste within a couple of days or freeze.
I'll be sharing my Massaman duck curry soon.
Massaman Curry Paste
Ingredients
- 6 dried long red chillies
- ½ cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 2 tsp coriander seeds
- 2 tsp cumin seeds
- 3 cardamom pods
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 10 g coriander stems
- 2 lemon grass stalks or juice and zest of a lemon
- 30 g peanuts
- 1 tbsp veg oil
- 1 tsp shrimp paste
- 2 shallots
- 40 g ginger
- 5 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Soak the chillies in hot water for 10 minutes then drain, deseed and rough chop.
- Peel and rough chop the garlic, shallots and ginger and add to a small food processor bowl with oil and lemon and chillies. Blitz until combined.
- Dry fry the cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, cardamom and peanuts until lightly toasted and then crush in a pestle and mortar.
- Add the dry spices to the processor along with the turmeric and shrimp paste.
chezlerevefrancais
I'm making it again today to go with duck. It's really easy so please give it a go when you can.
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I can't wait to try this recipe! I've got a goal this year to make my own curry pastes!
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Well for me it's often a case in France of make it yourself or go without. Just need a few more hours in the kitchen! Anyway, lucky you having food gifts!
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Thanks Nandini - hope I haven't got too much wrong!
ChgoJohn
I was the recipient of 3 curries as a gift when a cousin returned from the Far East recently. I've yet to use the Massaman curry but I can now without worrying what to do once it's gone. Thanks to you, Amanda, I can make a batch for myself -- or at least try my hand at it. That sure beats flying to Thailand for more. 🙂
Nandini
Wow!!! I am truly impressed Amanda with your 3 dabbas of spices 🙂
chef mimi
Ha!!!
Sabiscuit
I love curry but it's been hit or miss at home as I'm so accustomed to eating out at Nepalese or Indian restaurants. Your recipe is easy to follow so I'll try it soon. Warmest wishes. xo
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We had it again last night, this time with chicken. Definitely fragrant without being blow your head off!
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Yes, I think it's a Thai version of a Persian one.
Karen
I'm with you about curries and yours sounds really good.
chef mimi
So this would be more of a Thai curry than an Indian one? Love the ingredients.
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I used to be the same but I think that be eating it regularly my resistance has increased. I love the flavours of the different curries across the world. Lucky you for living there! x
ourfrenchoasis
I am not the hugest of curry fans but I do love very very mild ones with lots of spices but not heat! I spent a year in India, one of my favourite things was to go to the local market to buy spices, huge brown paper bags of each for literally 2cents.