Charged Up Chilli Paste Recipes

Steps:

• Puree chillies in blender (including seeds).
• Transfer to saucepan.
• Add remaining ingredients and stir over low-medium heat until sugar dissovles.
• Place relish into sterlised jar, or dip bowl.
• Increase qty of herbs if using fresh.

Steps:

• If you are using dry chilies, soak them in a bowl of boiling water until they have softened, about an hour; then drain the soaked chilies and prepare as usual.
• Process all ingredients in a blender or food processor, adding oil a little at a time until mixture becomes smooth and pasty and of the right consistency (How much oil you use really depends on the size of your chilies).
• Store refrigerated in an airtight container, covering the top of the paste with a little bit of oil.

Steps:

• To make the burnt chilli paste, heat the oil in a frying pan over a moderate heat and fry the onion until softened. Remove and set aside.
• Add the chillies to the pan and fry until blackened. Set aside.
• Add the garlic and fry until golden.
• Grind the dried prawns, half of the fried chillies, the onion and garlic together with a pestle and mortar, to create a coarse paste. Add the mixture to the pan with the fish sauce, tamarind water and sugar. Heat gently for a few minutes, stirring constantly, and then set aside.
• Heat the groundnut oil in a wok and fry the sliced garlic until brown. Add the chicken and fry for a couple of minutes on each side to seal.
• Crumble the remaining fried chillies into the wok and add 2 tablespoons of the burnt chilli paste, then the fish sauce, water, sugar and sliced chilli. Fry over a high heat.
• Add the basil leaves, kaffir lime leaves and cashew nuts and fry for another minute. Garnish with red chilli and basil and serve with plain boiled rice.

Steps:

• Wash chillies and remove stalks (Note: Use rubber gloves).
• Cut chillies in half lengthways.
• Wash and cut lemons into quarters.
• Crush garlic and finely chop ginger.
• Put all above ingredients into food processor and blend in batches until paste consistency is as desired, adding small amounts of oil if dry.
• In a heavy based pan cover bottom with oil and heat to medium high, when a small amount of paste is dropped into the oil it should sizzle.
• (Note: only cook chilli in well ventilated area as fumes are strong).
• Add paste to hot oil, add salt and stir constantly.
• As soon as paste turns from red to orange (about 3 - 4 mins) remove from heat, stir and allow to cool.
• Once cool put into sterilised jars and top with oil so that there is a thin layer of oil on top of paste and refrigerate.
• In cool weather this can be stored in a cupboard.