Jungle Curry with Duck, Long Beans, Oyster Mushrooms and Holy Basil

Northern Thailand doesn’t have coconut trees like the south does, so northern curries don’t feature coconut milk, much to the surprise of many Westerners. Free of the unctuous milk, these spicy curries exhibit a brilliant clarity of flavor. Thais sop up the delicious sauce with clumps of steamed sticky rice.

Krachai, an aromatic rhizome with finger-like appendages, gives this dish a unique taste. It is both pounded into the curry paste, and cut int