Thai Curry Without Tears, 'Kaeng Sai Mai Rong Hai'

Method - Red Curry Sauce

In a wok heat the garlic and shallots, and add the red curry paste, and stir until combined and aromatic. In a wok push it up the side of pan away from the heat. If you are using a saucepan remove and set aside. Heat the coconut milk until nearly boiling and lower the heat. Add the chili paste, a quarter at a time, and stir until dissolved. Now add the remaining ingredients, and stir until heated through.

You can increase or reduce the shallots/garlic and chili paste together by a factor of two (ie if you halve the chili paste, halve the garlic and shallots also. If you double them double them all). Similarly the jalapenas, ginger and fish sauce can be adjusted by up to a factor of two to give the flavor balance you want.

Ginger gives the dish an afterburn.

You can of course make the curry with any meat, poultry, fish or vegetables you wish. This is for a simple kaeng phet gai (chicken curry).

Method Curry Without Tears

Heat the sauce. Add the bamboo shoots and cook for three or four minutes, then add the chicken and lime leaves and cook until the chicken is cooked through. If you choose to make this with beef instead you will need to cook the meat for longer, so add it first, and cook until it just begins to be tender, then add the bamboo.

Method Stew Without Tears

In a medium pan bring the sauce and stock to a boil then turn down the heat as low as it can go. In a wokquickly stir fry the beef to seal it, and add it to the sauce. Poach it for 30 minutes to an hour until it is tender, then add the vegetables, turn up the heat and stir until the vegetables are barely cooked.

Method Soup Without Tears

Heat the sauce, add the stock and chili paste in oil, and stir to combine. Add the shrimp and mushrooms, and cook until the shrimp are pink. Taste and adjust the flavor by adding fish sauce (salt), sugar, and possibly more chili paste.