THAI RED CURRY PASTE

You Need

7-8 fresh or dried red chillies
1 cup chopped french shallots ( u can use white of spring onions)
about 2" long fresh galangal chopped
8-10 garlic cloves, chopped
about 3-4 tbspoon fresh coriander , leaves and stem
few kafir lime leaves ( can use dried ones available in super markets)
3 stems lemon grass , white only
Grated lemon rind ( grate a lemon using simple grater. taking care only the rind is grated)
Spices
1 tbsp coriander seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp oil

Paste
Lightly roast coriander and cumin seeds in a pan and grind them along with all other ingredients adding a little water in a processor. Process till it becomes a fine chutney/ paste.
This paste can also be stored in freezer and used whenever needed.

To make the curry.
• Heat oil in a wok and add chopped onions. Saute.
• Add curry paste( 2-3 tbsp) and cook over medium heat.
• Add 2 cups coconut milk ( ready available or fresh milk out of grated coconut)
•To extract coconut milk. Make a fine chutney of a fresh coconut. Squeeze juice using a sieve.
• Reduce heat and simmer
• Add some sliced galangal and kafir lime leaves.
• Add 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tsp lime juice.

You can add any vegetable/ mushrooms or meat ( steamed or boiled a bit ) to this curry. and cook.