Jungle Curry Paste

Prik Kaeng Bpa

Preparation info
  • Makes

    ¾ cup

    pounded, slightly more if blended
    • Difficulty

      Easy

Appears in
Southeast Asian Flavors: Adventures in Cooking the Foods of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia & Singapore

By Robert Danhi

Published 2008

  • About

Krachai, a rhizome with oddly attractive appendages lends this curry paste a heady aroma. Notice how simple this curry paste is: no cilantro roots or dried chilies. It is most similar to green curry paste, which could be substituted for it in a pinch.

Ingredients

  • 6 small Thai bird, green chilies
  • ½ tsp. Kosher salt
  • 2 stalks

Method

Make the Curry Paste

  1. Using a Mortar: Begin by pounding bird chilies and salt; pound until semi-smooth. Add lemongrass, galangal, krachai; pound until lemongrass disintegrates. Add garlic, shallots, and green chilies; pound until a smooth even curry paste is achieved. Pound in toasted shrimp paste. (See for more on using a