Laksam Kelantan

Hellloo foodie,
What's in store for our cooking today? Oh-well-well. I'm going to introduce to you another noodle dish (Mee Rebus, Curry Mee Vegetarian & Hokkien Mee). From the state of Kelantan, remember Nasi Dagang? Laksam is basically, as I have already said, a noodle dish. A soupy curry type dish. Of course, as always, I must tell you that there's various versions to a bowl of Laksam, additionally, there's no right and wrong formula on its cooking technic and preferred ingredients. Still, essentially, we must get it right with the basics. For this laksam,  we should potentially get it right on its fish-coconut milk broth (Home Made Curry Mee), and the rest, meaning, type of noodles and topping and garnishes are as per your choice (Malaysian Fried Mee, Penang Prawn Mee & Lamb Pho). So, what are you waiting for? Wouldn't you wanna dive into this creamy, spicy and aromatic broth, generously ladled over noodles and garnished with ginger torch bud? I reckon you must. 

Ingredients

For broth/gravy

200g/1 large piece Indian Mackerel/tenggiri fish

1 1/2 cup thick coconut milk

2 dried tamarind fruit/asam keping - can replace with tamarind juice

2 tbsp oil

Salt for taste

For gravy paste (blend/ground)

5 red chillies

3 birds eye chillies/cili padi (optional)

1 lemon grass/serai

5 shallots

Others (plus, minus or as needed)

Yee Mee (or any other) noodles - rinse and drain.
Cabbage - sliced

Long beans/kacang panjang - sliced

Fish balls
1  ginger torch bud/bunga kantan - sliced thinly

Method:

Simmer fish in 1/2 liter of water till fish is soft and tender. 

Remove fish, let it cool down and flake up (make sure all the bones are carefully removed). 

Keep aside.
Drain the fish broth and keep aside. 

Heat oil and when heated, fry the gravy paste till aromatic. 

Pour fish broth and stir.
Pour coconut milk, add tamarind and season with salt. 

Keep it simmering or simmer again before serving.

To Serve:
Add veggies and fish balls into broth to cook.
Pour over noodles and garnish with torch bud.