Thai green curry paste

Ingredients for Thai green curry paste

Thai green curry paste

Another gem from the Wagamama cookbook. I made this today for curry-in-a-hurry tomorrow. Simply put all the above ingredients (in the quantities listed below) into a food processor and blitz until smooth. Purists would say you have to pound it in a pestle and mortar to release the oils properly, but I'll leave that decision to you. Once made, it can be kept in a jar in the fridge or frozen (in ice cube trays).

6 green chillies, roughly chopped
1 lemongrass stalk, outer leaves removed, sliced finely
3 kaffir lime leaves, sliced
1cm piece ginger root, peeled and grated
bunch of coriander stems
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, roasted in a hot, dry frying pan
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon chopped shallot
1 teaspoon shrimp paste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

To make a chicken curry: Heat a couple of tablespoons of paste in a large frying pan with a teaspoon of palm (or brown) sugar. Pour in some coconut milk and when it comes to the boil add some finely chopped chicken and mini aubergine, followed by some halved baby corn. Cook until the chicken and aubergine are done. Finish with a generous squeeze of lime. Garnish with coriander and/or basil leaves.

Thai green curry paste

5 minute prawns

Not minute as in tiny, but minute as in 60 seconds!

Chilli prawns

For two people: Put an ounce of butter and a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over a medium-high heat, and add half a finely chopped red chilli (or more, according to taste) and 2 cloves of garlic. Let them cook for about a minute - don't let the garlic go brown - and add a pound or so of uncooked, peeled prawns.  When they start to turn pink pour in half a glass of white wine, bring everything back to the boil and cook for about 2 minutes. Serve in warmed bowls with the juices poured over and plenty of your favourite bread. Garnish with finely chopped parsley or coriander.

Love at first bite

We finished off last night's Apple Bakewell Tart for pudding.  Yum yum bubblegum.