Thai Curry Chopsuey

Recipe

Preparation time : About 40 minutes

Makes : 4 servings

For Thai Curry

• 100 gms Tofu/ Paneer – cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/3 cup carrots – cut lengthwise into thick sticks
• 1/3 cup baby corn – cut lengthwise into thick sticks
• 1 potato – cut lengthwise into thick sticks
• 1 Brinjal – roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup peppers – cut lengthwise into thick sticks
• 50 ml light soya sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 2 red chillies – finely  chopped
• 3 tsp vegetable oil
• 300 ml coconut milk (low-fat)
• 10-12 mushrooms – halved
• 5-6 fresh basil leaves – finely chopped
• 1 inch ginger – grated
• 1 tsp fresh coriander – finely chopped
• roasted peanuts – roughly chopped for garnishing

for the Red curry paste

This will yield about 1 cup of paste which can be used for making the red thai curry twice.

• 8-9 Whole dried red chillies
  
• 2 medium onions – chopped
• 2 tsp each of lemongrass & coriander
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tsp grated ginger (preferable to use galangal but i used ginger itself)
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp lime juice
• Zest of 1/2 lemon
• 2 tsp oil

For Chopsuey

• 400 gms instant noodles/ ramen – divide in 2 parts (you can also choose typical noodle/spaghetti but the fried ramen taste best)
• Oil for frying
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp cornstarch

Method

1. Starting with the red curry paste, marinate the whole dried red chillies in 1/3 cup of hot water for about 1/2 hour and then remove from water and mix with other red curry paste ingredients.
2. Grind all the ingredients into a smooth paste.
3. Now in a pan, take oil and bring to medium hot. Add the curry paste and cook till the oil starts to separate (will take about 7-8 minutes on simmer).  Remove from heat and keep aside. The paste can be refrigerated for about a month.

For Red Thai Curry

1. Marinate the tofu cubes in 1 tsp soya sauce, lime juice and and sugar for about 10 minutes.
2. Now, take a pan and add 2 tsp oil to it. To this, add the red curry paste, mushrooms and ginger and fry for about 2 minutes.
3. Now, add in the coconut milk and 1/2 cup water and bring to boil (the consistency should be soupy). To this, add all the vegetables (potatoes, brinjal, baby corn, carrots and peppers) and cook till the vegetables are tender.
4. Meanwhile, drain the tofu cubes, pat dry and pan fry in 1 tsp oil till light golden.
5. Now, add these tofu cubes, basil, sugar, soya sauce, lime juice, chillies and coriander and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Red Thai curry is ready

For Chopsuey

1. Parboil the ramen in enough water till tender (You may add 1 tsp of salt to this so that the noodles are not completely bland upon boiling). Drain and run under cold water. Now, add 1 tsp oil and mix well so that the ramen noodles do not stick together.
2. Divide in 2 parts. Keep one part aside for serving with the red Thai curry.
3. Take 1 part of ramen noodles. Add in the cornstarch and mix well till evenly coated on the noodles.
4. Now, take a pan and heat oil. Fry the noodles (in small batches) till light golden brown and crispy. Drain and remove extra oil using an absorbent paper. Keep aside.