Asam Laksa (Tamarind Laksa)

Ingredients
(A) Ground spice ingredients
15 fresh red chillies
15 dried red chillies
150g shallots
10 cloves garlic
40g galangal (lengkuas)
2cm knob fresh turmeric root
1 tsp belacan stock granules

(B)
4 tbsp tamarind paste (asam jawa), mixed and strained to obtain tamarind juice
300ml water
10 sprigs polygonum leaves (daun kesom)
3 pieces dried tamarind skin (asam keping)
3 stalks lemon grass, lightly smashed
1.8 litres water

(C)
1 kg mackerel or horse mackerel, cleaned
1 cup water
1 kg fresh laksa noodles

Seasoning
2 tbsp sugar or to taste
Salt to taste

Garnishing
1 wild ginger bud, halved and finely shredded
1 cucumber shredded
1/2 pineapple, sliced and shredded
1 onion, finely sliced.
2 red chillies, seeded and sliced
A few sprigs mint leaves
Prawn paste, diluted with water to a drizzle consistency

Method
Boil fish in just enough water. When cooked, remove the fish and strain the stock. Then flake the fish and set the fish aside.

Put tamarind juice, ground ingredients (A), water and fish stock in a pot. Add polygonum leaves, dried tamarind skin and lemon grass. Bring to a low simmering boil for 10 minutes. Add the flaked fish and seasoning to taste. Continue to simmer for an extra 1–2 minutes.

To serve, put a handful of laksa noodles in a metal strainer and immerse in a pot of boiling water to scald the noodles for half a minute. Drain and put into a bowl. Pour a ladleful of laksa soup or gravy over the noodles and garnish with a little of each garnish. Drizzle a little prawn paste over and serve immediately. You can also serve the prawn paste separately.