Curry Laksa 201112122 Pyo Ye Ji (Mercedes)

Topping:
1 large boneless chicken breast or thigh, about 1 lb
8 pieces of shucked oysters or shrimp
2 hard boiled eggs, quartered
Spice Paste:
10 dried chilies or about 5 fresh red jalapenos
10 shallots
2 cloves garlic
2 lemongrass
2 tablespoon roasted belachan (substitute 2 tablespoon fish sauce)
1 tablespoon mild curry powder
1 inch of galangal
1 tablespoon dried tumeric powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup of canola oil for frying
Broth:
2 cups coconut milk, reserve ½ cup of cream
4 cups of chicken broth
1 cup of water
Salt to taste (at least a few pinchfuls of salt)
12 fried tofu puffs
6 oz egg noodles
6 oz rice vermicelli
Vegetables:
1 cup mung bean sprouts
Cilantro
Preparing the meat:
1. Steam chicken breast until cooked, about 20 minutes. Tear or cut into ½ inch thick slices
2. Drain the oysters, keep refrigerated. If using shrimp, blanch shrimp.
Preparing the spice paste:
3. Grind together spice paste ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.

Preparing the laksa soup base:
4. Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat until just hot. Stir in spice paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until the red oil separates from the spice paste about 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Lower the heat, slowly add coconut milk, tofu balls, chicken stock and bring to a slow simmer, stirring constantly. Simmer for at 20-30 minutes. Salt to taste.

Preparing the noodles:
6. Bring a pot of water to boil. Add salt and oil. Blanch rice vermicelli till tender.
7. Using the same water, blanch egg noodles. Reserve.

Assembly:
8. Place a serving of noodles and rice vermicelli, vegetables, chicken, and oysters in bowls and ladle laksa broth over. Drizzle a teaspoon of coconut cream.
Garnish with cilantro.
9. Serve with quartered limes and sambal.