Friday 8 January 2016

Fish Laksa

Laksa is one of my favorite South East Asian dishes, here made with lovely white fleshed fish for a perfect, delicate and warming main dish.


This is my first post for 2016! I am really looking forward to this year - mainly because I am getting married in less than three months time!! It's going to be a busy but exciting year. And on the food front, I have so much deliciousness planned to share here with you all so watch this space!


Everyone that regularly reads my posts will be well aware that I have a small obsession with South East Asian food. It is my absolute favorite cuisine to both cook and eat so it's no surprise that I have chosen this gorgeous fish laksa as my first recipe of the year.


I don't cook recipes with fish very often, I love seafood but it's not something I always feel too confident in cooking properly. But in this Laksa, the fish is poached in the soup so it's super easy!


This creamy, spicy soup has all the flavors you expect from a Laksa. It's got the spicy, sweet, and sour all packed in there! It's also a great midweek meal as it's simple and quick to prepare, and good for you too!

Fish Laksa


Serves 4

Curry Paste:

2 Tbsp canola oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cm piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
2 tsp cumin
1 bunch fresh coriander
Zest of 1 lime
1 tsp turmeric
3 red chilies, roughly chopped*
1 Tbsp lemongrass 
1 Tbsp shrimp paste

Curry:

200 g egg noodles
400 mL fish stock
1 400 mL can of coconut cream
400 g fresh fish fillets, divided into four portions
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp fish sauce
1 Cup mushrooms, sliced

To Serve:

Fresh coriander
Mung bean sprouts
Spring onion (scallion)

1. Make the curry paste by blitzing all of the curry paste ingredients together in a food processor.

2. Heat a large sauce pan over a medium heat and fry the curry paste for a couple of minutes, until very fragrant. Add the fish stock and coconut cream and mushrooms. Bring to a simmer and simmer for about 10 minutes, to allow the soup the thicken. Cook the noodles according to the package directions during this time.

3. Add the fish and poach for about 5-7 minutes, until the fish is cooked (it will start to fall apart). Add the fish sauce and lime juice and adjust the flavors to suit your tastes.

4. Divide drained cooked noodles between four bowls. Add a piece of fish to each bowl, pour over the laksa and top with fresh coriander and mung bean sprouts, and spring onion

* this is a rough guide only. We like quite a bit of heat in our meals so adjust the amount of chili accordingly. If you are just after a bit of warmth but no real heat then use 1 chili with the seeds and spine removed.

24 comments:

  1. I love all curry dishes and this is one I have yet to try, than you for the recipe and good luck with your wedding preparations. x

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  2. Your photos of this soup take my breath away. I can only imagine how wonderful it must taste! I didn't know you were getting married in the near future; that is very exciting news, Nicole! Thanks for sharing this incredible looking dish; we can't wait to see what 2016 holds in store for you!

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  3. This recipe looks absolutely delicious, fantastic flavors! Beautiful pictures so inviting and colorful. Congratulations on getting married so happy for you! :)

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  4. Wonderful combination of flavors and your pictures look amazing! Congrats on the upcoming nuptials, how exciting for you both!!

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  5. Love the way you presented this soup! It looks so full of delicious flavors I can't wait to try it!

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  6. Well, this seafood lover is giddy! I am totally saving this one to make soon.

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  7. Love your fish laksa, Nicole. Looks delish!

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  8. I'm not familiar w/ this but love those colors and the flavors sound great too! I think I need to get myself familiar w/ it!

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  9. This looks really good! I cook fish all the time, and this looks and sounds amazing! And, super big congrats on the upcoming wedding! Such a wonderfully fun time in your life! :)

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  10. This is the perfect cool weather winter soup. Love it!

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  11. I am going to put this on my "to do" list. I've been very soup oriented and this sounds amazing. Congrats on your upcoming marriage. Super happy for you.

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  12. What a gorgeous dish! I love to colours and I LOVE bean sprouts. Totaly YUM!!

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  13. Beautifully presented Nicole! I love poaching fish as well as finding easy curry dishes...looks like a must-try for sure! Good luck with your wedding preparations!

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  14. Love the dish, the spice, the look. Yum.

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  15. I have a chicken version of Laksa (one of my favorite curries) and now I am totally inspired to make it with fish! I can certainly use a bowl of this delicious soup this winter season!

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  16. Your photos are stunning and the recipe sounds so delicious. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!!!!

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  17. You had me at laksa!! This looks phenomenal yum yum

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  18. i really love curry and this looks awesome!

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  19. Congratulations on the upcoming marriage! Very busy period and this laksa is the perfect soothing meal!

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  20. Your photographs are stunning. The soup looks magnificent. AND I love the name Laksa - whenever the chefs turn the phrase on Top Chef it makes me want to make some and now you've inspired me to really try it.

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  21. I have got to make this soon, it looks amazing!! Nicely done!!

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  22. Nicole, this is stunning!! Those colors and flavors, just WOW!!!

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  23. You must be getting so excited with only 3 months to go to the wedding! Love this recipe - it's so warming and comforting but wholesome too. I've never eaten Fish Laksa so I hope to try it soon!

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