Gaeng Keow Wan Gai: A Classic Green Chicken Curry

Louise Hagger

Serves
Serves 4
Total Time
40 Minutes
Ingredients
For The Paste:
½ tsp of coriander seeds
½ tsp of cumin seeds
1 tsp of white peppercorns
A good pinch of salt
1 tbsp of finely chopped galangal
1 tbsp of finely chopped lemongrass
2 Thai shallots or 1 regular shallot, peeled and finely chopped
12 green Thai bird’s eye chillies, de-stemmed and chopped
2 long green chillies, de-stemmed and finely chopped
4 tbsp of finely chopped fresh coriander (cilantro) root, with some stem attached
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
2-cm/¾-inch piece of fresh turmeric, finely chopped
Zest of 1 kaffir lime
1 tsp of kapi (shrimp paste)
For The Curry
2 tbsp of vegetable oil
1 x 400ml can of coconut milk
350g of chicken thighs, cut into 2-cm/¾-inch dice
1–2 tbsp of nam pla (fish sauce)
A pinch of caster (superfine) sugar (optional)
65 g of pea aubergines (eggplants)
2 Thai round aubergines (eggplants), cut into quarters
100 g of bamboo shoots, chopped
2 long red chillies, diagonally sliced into 3 pieces
A large handful of Thai sweet basil
1 long orange chilli (optional)
Method
Step 1

To make the paste: pound all the ingredients in a pestle and mortar (starting with hardest ingredients first, as listed, working down to the softest), until you have a uniform, close-textured paste. If it’s not completely smooth, don’t worry. If you prefer to use a food processor or a blender, again work from the hardest to the softest ingredients, and add about one tablespoon water or more to bring the paste together.

Step 2

To make the curry: heat the oil in a wok or saucepan and fry the paste until it smells fragrant, about one minute. Add half of the coconut milk, bring to the boil slowly, stirring to dissolve the paste. Once the paste has dissolved, let the coconut milk simmer a little until you see oil appearing on the surface. Then add 200 ml/7 fl oz/scant 1 cup of water and bring to the boil.

Step 3

Add the chicken and bring back to the boil, then add the rest of the coconut milk. Bring back to the boil and simmer for about 6 minutes. Add the nam pla and the sugar, if using. Taste and adjust the seasoning. If it seems a little thick, add a little more water – you want a soupiness, not a thick gravy.

Step 4

Add the aubergines, the bamboo shoots and one of the long red chillies. Simmer for another three minutes or so. Taste – you want this to taste vibrant, hot, salty and herbaceous. Add the basil, the remaining red chilli and the whole orange chilli if you have one, and serve with some jasmine rice and Nam Pla Prik (Fish Sauce with Chillies).

Recipes and stories from my Thai homeby Kay Plunkett-Hogge, published by Pavilion Books. Image credit to Louise Hagger.

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