Life

James Street Cookery School: Salmon and nut curry, Thai green curry

Salmon and nut curry from James Street Cookery School
Salmon and nut curry from James Street Cookery School Salmon and nut curry from James Street Cookery School

Spicy food is still one of the most popular dishes to order for a Friday night takeaway but they are really simple to make at home. It actually makes me laugh when teaching in the cookery school because people are so surprised at how quick they can whip up their own dish.

You might need to stock up on a few essential items from the Asian Supermarket on Belfast's Ravenhill Road but once you have your ingredient base, you'll be making a curry every week. I'll post a short shopping list on my Facebook page so you know what the essential store-cupboard items are.

And if you still aren’t sure, maybe I will see you at one of my next cookery classes.

SALMON AND NUT CURRY

(Serves 4)

150g cashew nuts

4 cloves garlic

1 inch ginger, grated

1 tablesp fresh turmeric, grated

1 red pepper, fine dice

280g greek style yoghurt

1 tesp mustard powder

2 teasp sea salt flakes

1 tablesp grapeseed oil

625ml coconut water

12 curry leaves

2 tablesp fish sauce

8 cherry tomatoes, halved

1 aubergine, chopped

800g skinless salmon fillet, cut into pieces

12 mussels

1 chilli, sliced and deseeded

1 lime juiced and zested

Place the cashews in a bowl and cover with boiling water for 20 minutes. Once softened drain away the water and place in a food processor. Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, yoghurt, mustard powder, red pepper and salt; mix well.

Place the oil in a large pot on a gentle heat. Add in the paste you have just made and bring up to a gentle heat for four-five minutes, adding the coconut water and the curry leaves, the fish sauce and stirring until a smooth liquid. Add in the chopped tomatoes and aubergine; cook for five minutes.

Add in the chilli, salmon and mussels and place the lid on. Cook for a further five minutes. Add in the zest and juice of the lime and stir. Make sure that all mussels are cleaned well and they close when tapped; discard any that are cracked. Only serve the mussels which have opened.

THAI GREEN CURRY – CHICKEN

(Serves 4)

450g chicken breast

600ml coconut milk

For the curry paste:

8 green chillies

1 stalk lemon grass (sliced thinly and soaked in lime juice for 30mins)

1 tablesp lime peel, grated

1 tea spoon fresh ginger, grated

1 teaspoon coriander, chopped

½ teaspoon roasted ground cumin

3 garlic cloves (crushed or thinly chopped)

5 shallots, sliced thinly

1 teaspoon shrimp paste

For the sauce:

3 table spoons of Thai fish sauce or light soy sauce

1 teaspoon brown/palm sugar

3 tablespoons green peppercorns

30g thai basil leaves, shredded

Up to 1 red chilli, thinly sliced, de-seeded

Make the paste old style – pestle and mortar – or in a food processor, ensuring that the mix is smooth and consistent.

Slice the chicken breasts in long thin strips and cook in rapeseed oil. Cook on both sides until cooked through, about five minutes – do not brown.

Place a wok on high heat; add the coconut milk and let this boil up and when splitting/curdling start to add in the fish/soy sauce, curry paste, peppercorns and the chicken. Simmer for 30 minutes on a medium heat, stirring.

Before serving, add the chopped leaves and herbs and add chilli to taste. If it becomes too spicy, add more coconut milk. Serve with Jasmine or steamed rice.

If you have curry paste left over, cover in oil and refrigerate in an airtight container.