Method

Thai recipes are focused around light dishes with strong, aromatic components and lots of spice. It’s taken influence from neighboring countries including India, Malaysia and China, as well as traders from Portugal and the Americas.

Penang is an area in Malaysia where this dish originated from, but over the years it has had its own Thai spin put on it. Spicy chillies, zesty lemongrass, warming ginger and aromatic Thai holy basil are just some of the flavours of the curry, and which you’ll also find in many other Thai food recipes. A penang curry is thicker than other Thai curries, with a richer taste and creamier texture.

Step 1

To make the paste place all the ingredients* in a jug and blend using a stick blender until they become a thick, smooth paste. Add a little water as required. Cover and place in the fridge for at least ½ hour.

Step 2

In a large pan gently fry the onion in the oil until softened but not browned. Add a splash of coconut milk and the paste. Stir and cook gently until the paste begins to release its oil and give off a delicious aroma. It will also begin to darken slightly. Add the tamarind and water. Stir and cook briefly. Add the rest of the coconut milk and stir to combine thoroughly. Reduce the heat and gently simmer for 15-20 minutes. The sauce should be thick but if it looks too dry add a little hot water.

Step 3

Place the rice and salt in a medium pan with 300ml of water. Stir once and heat until it comes to the boil. Turn down to a very low heat and with a good fitting lid continue to cook until all the water has been absorbed (about 15 minutes). The rice is now ready to serve.

Step 4

Add the pepper and baby corn to the sauce and return to a simmer. Cook for a further 5 minutes then add the prawns. Gently simmer until the prawns have turned completely pink. Remove from the heat, add the fresh coriander leaves and serve.