Coconut Laksa with Shrimp

Creates about 8 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp—shelled and deveined, shells reserved

1 onion, quartered 

1 carrot, sliced

3 large shallots, quartered

4 jalapeños, seeded and coarsely chopped

1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh ginger

1/4 cup macadamia nuts

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 cup Asian fish sauce

1/4 cup canola oil

2 plump lemongrass stalks—bottom 8 inches only, outer layer removed, stalk cut into 2-inch lengths

One 14 1/2-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1 pound Thai flat rice noodles (pad thai), soaked in warm water for 10 minutes

Salt

Lime wedges, for serving 

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine the shrimp shells with the onion, carrot and 8 cups of water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until the stock is bright orange and reduced to 5 cups, about 30 minutes. Strain and reserve the stock.

In a food processor, combine the shallots, jalapeños, ginger, macadamia nuts, coriander and turmeric with 2 tablespoons of the fish sauce and 2 tablespoons of the canola oil; puree until smooth.

In a soup pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the seasoning paste and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the lemongrass and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture darkens slightly and the oil separates, about 10 minutes.

Add the reserved shrimp stock, coconut milk, brown sugar and the remaining 2 tablespoons of fish sauce. Simmer over moderate heat until the soup is reduced to 6 cups, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling water, cook the rice noodles just until pliable, about 1 minute. Drain, shaking out the excess water. Transfer to 8 soup bowls.

Add the shrimp to the soup and cook until pink and curled, about 5 minutes. Season the soup with salt and ladle it over the noodles. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.