Ingredients - serves 4
1. 2 tbsp dried prawns, soaked in water
2. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
3. 1/2 cup rempah (recipe below)
4. 400ml coconut milk
5. 250ml chicken stock
6. 24 prawns, peeled
7. 24 clams, rinsed
8. 3 cps thick rice stick noodles, broken into pieces
9. 2 cups bean sprouts
10. 1 cup tofu puffs, diced
11. 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved
12. 1/4 cup fresh laksa leaves finely sliced (also known as daun kesom, rau ram or Vietnamese mint)
Method
Soak the dried prawns in warm water for 10 minutes, then pound in a mortar until crumbly then set aside.
Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over a moderate heat, then try the rempah for 3 minutes, stirring often, until aromatic. Add coconut milk, chicken stock and dried prawns then simmer for 2 minutes before adding the prawns and clams and turning the heat to low.
Blanch the noodles until just softened, then add to the soup with tofu and eggs. Blanch bean sprouts for 1 minute then refresh under cold water and place into bowls. Mix in the laksa leaves and season with salt, then ladle into bowls.
REMPAH SPICE PASTE
Ingredients – serves 4
8 shallots, peeled (270g)
12 candlenuts
2 tsp (25g) Belachan (shrimp paste), roasted
3cm piece fresh turmeric, peeled
2 sticks lemongrass, sliced (white part only)
12 cloves of garlic
3cm piece galangal, peeled and chopped
2 long red chillies, seeded and chopped
10 dried red chillies, soaked and seeded
2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp ground coriander seed
1 tsp ground star anise
20 laksa leaves
1/2 cup dried shrimp, soaked and drained
Method
Combine all ingredients in a a food processor and puree until very smooth with 1/2 cup water. Store refrigerated and use within 1 week.