Curry pastes (mainly Thai)

[badjak]

It can be tricky to get the ingredients depending on location.
To me, the most difficult it coriander root or stems.
I grow kaffir limes, but still, leaves are easy, peel ain't.
I got lemongrass, galangal, and chili's in my garden
Shrimp paste can be difficult, but you dont need much, so once you find it you are good for a while (otherwise sub fish sauce).
Cumin, coriander seed, peppercorn: easy peasy

Thai food is vibrant, in your face.
The fresher your ingredients, the better !
Just dried chili's

 

[medtran49]

Yeah, that lemongrass was a bust. I recall getting fresh at the Thai market and this is trash. Even chewing on a piece was nada. I think the gentian root I've got for making bitters has more *bang* than the grass.

Agree though on more lime parts.

Some groceries carry pureed lemon grass in a tube in the chilled produce section. Not as great as fresh, but I'm sure it's WAY better than dried.

 

[Barriehie]

Some groceries carry pureed lemon grass in a tube in the chilled produce section. Not as great as fresh, but I'm sure it's WAY better than dried.

I hacked what I had. Put the bullet proof pieces in the IP with enough water to make it work and HP cook for 30 minutes. Then everything in the Cuisinart mini-chopper and pulsed until soup with "stuff" in it.

 

[karadekoolaid]

Morelo's has a pretty good, for Rome GA, selection of spices leaning in the Mexican/Latino/Hispanic direction.

That's Mexican, 1,000%.
As for the pestle and mortar, ask the guys there if they can get hold of a proper "molcajete"

Dried lemongrass is a bit bland compared to the fresh stuff

That's an understatement! IMHO, there are 3 things that just do not work dried: lemongrass, coriander leaf and parsley.

 

[badjak]

I found a Vietnamese/Thai grocery an hour away and I'll go there next week for an Asian grocery run. 👏

You'll have fun
Get your shopping list ready and talk to the people in the shop. They are sure to give you a lot of pointers!
Maybe get yourself a bamboo steamer as well and we'll get you making bao pao, roti kukus and lots of other goodies

 

[badjak]

I'll start a separate thread just now about Thai dishes, so we can keep this one for pastes and have another place for the curries and other dishes to make with them.
I'll post the link when it is up

Barriehie : I'm sure your homemade paste smells way better than your bought version

 

[Barriehie]

You'll have fun
Get your shopping list ready and talk to the people in the shop. They are sure to give you a lot of pointers!
Maybe get yourself a bamboo steamer as well and we'll get you making bao pao, roti kukus and lots of other goodies

I have a bamboo steamer. Wife was Korean... 👍

 

[Barriehie]

I'll start a separate thread just now about Thai dishes, so we can keep this one for pastes and have another place for the curries and other dishes to make with them.
I'll post the link when it is up

Barriehie : I'm sure your homemade paste smells way better than your bought version

It does! You can smell it at arms length. 👃

 

[Barriehie]

That's Mexican, 1,000%.
As for the pestle and mortar, ask the guys there if they can get hold of a proper "molcajete"
...

That won't work. I'd have to pay up front and in all likelihood it would be the same brand/quality they've already got on display. $35 for one that's 6" ID and then still have to buy the pestle! 🤨

I ordered this one and it comes in at a little over 10 lbs! Nice and big. Pictures 👌

 

[karadekoolaid]

so increase kaffir lime rind or leaves, or even add lime peel/zest

Wise advice. When I make satay or peanut sauce and can't find lemongrass, I bung in some lime/lemon zest. Can't vouch for the authenticity, since I've only been to Indonesian/Thai restaurants, never to the countries, unfortunately.

 

[Barriehie]

Wise advice. When I make satay or peanut sauce and can't find lemongrass, I bung in some lime/lemon zest. Can't vouch for the authenticity, since I've only been to Indonesian/Thai restaurants, never to the countries, unfortunately.

Same here.

 

[badjak]

I love Indonesian food, but that should get a thread on its own

 

[karadekoolaid]

I love Indonesian food, but that should get a thread on its own

Agree!

 

[Barriehie]

Vietnamese/Thai grocery store run tomorrow for curry paste ingredients and some actual curry that's a good brand so I've a comparison for what I make. 80 miles round trip so I'm taking salmon onigiri for snacking.

Whatever the case for cilantro root I'll for darn sure have some next year...

Furikake! Haven't had that in years!!! 😋

 

[badjak]

I think you are going to have fun and come hoome with lots of goodies, if you are anything like me