Laksa

Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore, and to some extent, Indonesia. This rich, spicy, and filling soup is a crowd favorite across South-east Asia and has numerous variations. Here is a simplified recipe to help you prepare this delicacy at home: Ingredients 200g dry rice vermicelli 200g raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 200g firm tofu, cut into bite-size cubes 2 boiled eggs, halved 1 cup bean sprouts, washed and drained 1 cucumber, cut into strips Fresh coriander leaves for garnish For the Laksa Paste 2 stalks lemongrass, white part only 2 red chillies 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 5 shallots, peeled 3 cloves garlic, peeled 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger 1 tablespoon dried shrimp, soaked and drained 1 tablespoon oil For the Laksa Soup 2 tablespoons oil 400ml coconut milk 4 cups chicken stock 2 teaspoons fish sauce 1 teaspoon sugar Salt, to taste Instructions Prepare the Laksa Paste: Blend all the ingredients for the paste in a food processor until smooth....