Laksa

Ingredients:

• 2 small blue mackerel – cleaned
• 4 cups cold wter
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups tamarind water
• 2 stalks sliced lemon grass – white part
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tbsp blachan
• 5 dried chilies – soaked, drained and chopped
• 1 in galangal or ginger – chopped
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 350g/11oz thick rice noodles [laksa noodles]

Steps:

1. Cut fish into four pieces each
2. Add fish pieces to boiling salted water
3. Reduce heat
4. Simmer – 5 minutes
5. Remove fish
6. Flake off flesh by hand
7. Set aside
8. Put fish heads and bones back in water
9. Add tamarind water
10. Simmer – 10 minutes
11. Strain
12. Blend lemon grass turmeric, blachan, chilies and galangal into a paste
13. Add to fish stock
14. Stir in sugar
15. Simmer – 10 minutes
16. Add fish
17. Pour boiling water over noodles
18. Drain and divide noodles into four bowls
19. Add soup
20. Garnish as desired

Serves 4