Thai Red Prawn Curry with Jasmine Rice

THAI RED PRAWN CURRY WITH JASMINE RICE

INGREDIENTS
RED CURRY
• 2 stalks of lemongrass
• 1 fresh red chilli
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Optional: 4 kaffir lime leaves
• A bunch of fresh coriander
• 2 jarred red peppers in oil
• 1 heaped tsp tomato puree
• 1tbsp fish sauce
• 2tbsp soy sauce
• 1tsp sesame oil
• 2cm (¾in) piece of fresh ginger
• 8 large unpeeled raw tiger prawns
• 200g (7oz) sugar snap peas
• 220g (7½oz) small cooked prawns
• 1 x 400g tin of coconut milk
• 2 limes, to serve
• 1 bag of prawn crackers, to serve
SEASONING
• Olive oil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt and black pepper
JASMINE RICE
• 1 mug of basmati rice
• 2 jasmine tea bags or 1 jasmine flower
METHOD:

TO START: Get all your ingredients and equipment ready. Turn the oven on to 200C/ gas 6. Fill and boil the kettle. Put the standard blade attachment into the food processor.
JASMINE RICE: Put a medium saucepan on a medium heat. Add the mug of rice, a pinch of salt, a splash of olive oil, the 2 jasmine teabags or flower, and cover with 2 mugs of boiling water (use the same mug you used for the rice).
Cover and cook for 7 minutes, then take off the heat and leave to steam with the lid on for 7 minutes.
RED CURRY: Put a frying pan on a medium heat. Trim the ends and tough outer leaves of the lemongrass stalks, bash up the stalks with the side of a knife, then put into a food processor with 1 fresh red chilli (stalk removed), 2 peeled cloves of garlic, 4 lime leaves, a bunch of coriander, 2 jarred red peppers, 1 heaped tsp tomato puree, 1tbsp fish sauce, 2tbsp soy sauce and 1tsp sesame oil. Peel and add 2cm (¾in) fresh ginger.
Blitz to a paste – you might need to stop and use a spatula to scrape down the sides so it all gets whizzed up. Drizzle some olive oil into the hot frying pan and add the unpeeled raw tiger prawns. Fry for around 1 minute, then add 1tbsp of the curry paste and fry for 1 more minute.
Tip into an ovenproof dish and put into the oven on the top shelf for about 8 to 10 minutes. Put the pan you cooked the prawns in back over a medium heat.
Drizzle in a little olive oil, then add the sugar snap peas, then the small prawns. Spoon in the rest of the curry paste, and stir and fry for a minute or two before adding the coconut milk. Stir as it melts down, then leave to simmer on a medium to low heat.
TO SERVE: Taste the curry and correct the seasoning with a few drops of soy sauce, if needed. Scatter over the reserved coriander leaves, then take to the table with the dish of prawns from the oven.
Cut the remaining limes into wedges for squeezing over. Put the prawn crackers into a serving bowl, and take to the table.
Fluff up the rice with a fork, then take to the table. Toss and dress the cucumber salad. Dish up the rice, ladle over the curry and divide the large prawns between everyone.