Ingredients
- 40 fresh or 60 frozen curry leaves
- 1 jalapeño or serrano chile, stemmed, and seeded for less heat
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, leafy parts and tender stems ripped off of the tough stems
- 2 tbsp frozen ground lemongrass paste (optional)
- 1 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
Directions
To make the herb paste: Combine the curry leaves, ginger, lemongrass paste (if using), cilantro, jalapeño, and 3 tablespoon water in the bowl of a food processor, and purée into a nearly smooth paste. Set aside.
Ingredients
- 3 dried red chili
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 lb tiger shrimp (16 to 20 shrimp per pound), peeled and deveined
- 4 cup fresh corn (from 4 to 6 ears) or frozen corn
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, half-and-half, or milk
- 27 oz (two 13.5-ounce cans) coconut milk
- 1/8 tsp asafetida
- 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
- 15 fresh or 22 frozen curry leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp brown mustard seeds
- 11/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 3 tbsp canola oil
To make the curry: Heat the canola oil, cumin seeds, and mustard seeds in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cumin browns and becomes fragrant and the mustard seeds pop, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the curry leaves, chili's, turmeric, and asafetida, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Then stir in the herb paste, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the mixture is very fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
Pour in the coconut milk and the cream, stir, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the salt, and add the corn and shrimp. Simmer until the shrimp curl and are just cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cilantro and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Masala Farm: Stories and Recipes from an Uncommon Life in the Country by Suvir Saran with Raquel Pelzel and Charlie Burd/Chronicle Books, 2012.