(Serves 4)

Ingredients

 200g sirloin steak (fat removed, cut into strips)
2 tbsp oil
4 tbsp curry paste (see below)
400ml coconut milk
4 kaffir lime leaves, stem removed
4 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp palm sugar
2 red chillies
10 sweet basil leaves

Method

  1. Place the oil in a frying pan, add the curry paste and cook over a medium heat for 1 minute.
  2. Add the beef and fry for about 30 seconds. Add the coconut milk and three of the kaffir lime leaves.
  3. Add the fish sauce and the sugar.
  4. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the oil comes out, then add most of the sweet basil leaves and stir.
  5. Remove from the heat and serve garnished with a shredded kaffir lime leaf, the remaining basil leaves and the sliced chillies.
  6. Serve with steamed rice.

Panang Curry Paste

 (Serves 4)

Ingredients

1½ tsp coriander seeds, roasted
1 tsp cumin seeds, roasted
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black peppercorns
4 cardamom pods, roasted
4 pieces of mace, roasted
8–10 large red dried chillies, seeds removed and soaked in water
1 tbsp coriander root or coriander stalks, chopped
1 tbsp galangal, peeled and chopped
1 lemongrass stick, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 banana shallot, chopped
1 tsp shrimp paste (optional)
4 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped

Method

  1. Combine the cumin seeds, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, mace and cardamom pods in the pestle and mortar and grind them into a powder.
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients and pound into a smooth paste.