Ugly Baby’s Red Curry Paste

Ingredients for Ugly Baby’s Red Curry Paste

• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds

• 2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed, tough outer layers removed, thinly sliced crosswise

• 3 tablespoons finely chopped peeled galangal

• 110g dried Thai chillies, torn or chopped into small pieces

• 2 small Asian shallots or 1 medium shallot, coarsely chopped

• 8 garlic cloves

• 5 coriander roots or 3 tablespoons thinly sliced thick coriander stems

• 1 (1") piece dried kaffir lime zest or 2 very thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves (optional)

• 1 teaspoon (or more) prawns paste, preferably Thai

• A large mortar and pestle

Pound peppercorns and coriander seeds in mortar and pestle until finely ground (if using a food processor, you will want to grind these spices in a spice mill first). Add lemongrass and galangal and pound until ground to a coarse paste, 6–8 minutes. Add chillies (if you want, soak them in hot water 10–20 minutes beforehand to soften and make them easier to break up) and pound until pasty, 6–8 minutes. Add shallots, garlic, coriander roots, and kaffir lime zest, if using, and pound until everything comes together in a relatively smooth paste, about 5 minutes. Mix in prawns paste; taste and add more if needed.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.