Thai Green Curry Paste Recipe Authentic and Easy Cooking with Nart from www.cookingwithnart.com
Introduction
Thai cuisine is known for its bold, vibrant flavors, and one of the essential ingredients that give it that distinct taste is curry paste. Curry paste is a blend of herbs, spices, and aromatics that are ground together into a paste. It is a base for many Thai dishes, including curries, stir-fries, and soups. While you can find curry paste in most grocery stores, making it from scratch is easy and much more flavorful. In this article, we'll show you how to make authentic Thai curry paste at home.
Ingredients
Making Thai curry paste requires a few ingredients that you may not have in your pantry. Here's what you'll need:
10-12 dried red chili peppers
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon white peppercorns
1 tablespoon salt
2-3 stalks lemongrass
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1/4 cup chopped garlic
1/4 cup chopped galangal or ginger
1/4 cup chopped cilantro roots
2-3 Kaffir lime leaves
Instructions
1. Start by soaking the dried chili peppers in hot water for 10-15 minutes until they are soft. Drain the water and remove the stems and seeds. 2. In a dry pan, toast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and white peppercorns until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool. 3. In a mortar and pestle or a food processor, grind the toasted spices until they are a fine powder. 4. Add the salt, lemongrass, shallots, garlic, galangal, cilantro roots, Kaffir lime leaves, and soaked chili peppers to the spice powder. 5. Pound or blend the ingredients together until they form a smooth paste. This may take some time, but be patient. 6. Taste the curry paste and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more salt, chili peppers, or other spices to achieve the desired flavor. 7. Store the curry paste in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze it for up to three months.
Nutrition
Thai curry paste is a flavorful addition to many dishes, but it is also high in sodium and calories. One tablespoon of homemade curry paste contains approximately:
25 calories
1 gram of fat
4 grams of carbohydrates
1 gram of protein
380 milligrams of sodium
2 grams of fiber
While curry paste is an essential ingredient in many Thai dishes, it should be used in moderation due to its high sodium content.
Conclusion
Making authentic Thai curry paste at home is a simple and rewarding process. With a few essential ingredients and a little patience, you can create a flavorful base for many Thai dishes. Store the curry paste in the fridge or freezer and use it to add a bold, spicy flavor to your favorite dishes.
