This easy and authentic laksa paste recipe starts with a versatile and easy homemade curry paste and is finished with coconut milk, stock and fish sauce for authentic south Asian flavour. The snapper is added minutes before serving and poured over a bowl of rice noodles and vegetable garnishes. Let's take a trip to South East Asia, come on and I'll show you how easy it is!
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Homemade Laksa (Curry) Paste
Laksa is a really delicious version of curry that is popular in Southeast Asia. A mash up of Chinese, Malay and Indonesian influences come together in this fragrant and flavorful paste. Adding soft nuts to the paste adds to the creaminess of the finished curry. I love Asian flavors, travelling throughout South East Asia multiple times in my twenties gave me a deep appreciation for the food there.
Spicy, rich and authentic are the descriptions that come to mind when I recall the flavors I tasted. Some (many) I haven't mastered yet but there are a few that I've recreated to my satisfaction. Have you tried my Chirashai Sushi Bowl or Miso Baked Oysters? If not, these are worth trying too.
Don't be daunted by the ingredient list, it all goes in the blender and is done in minutes and the ingredients are easy to find at most grocery stores. Thick and rich, full of bright spice and herbal aromas, this soup is a comforting and satisfying meal in a bowl.
Why I Made This
Through winter and early spring, there are fewer fresh vegetables grown here in Canada but fresh fish is abundant. In fact many seafoods like this snapper and most shellfish are at their best in the colder months.
To combat the cold, I love to add both kinds of heat. This is a wonderful laksa paste that can be easily made mild to hot and anywhere in between depending on how much heat you like.
Other ingredients like lemongrass and chilis keep well through winter. Sometimes I buy my cilantro but sometimes I grow cilantro as microgreens in the winter. They work awesome in this recipe and if you're curious to try it yourself, read my post on how to grow microgreens in winter.
Why Use BC Snapper
Many types of seafood are in season and even at their best in the cold winter months and one of my favourite fish to buy for weeknight meals is "Snapper". It is certified Ocean Wise. Snapper is fished regularly through the winter making it readily available and much less expensive that halibut. Another seafood in season in cold weather are scallops. If you get some, try my Scallops Vongole , another delicious seafood recipe.
Snapper has nice, firm flesh and a mild flavour similar to ling cod and because it has more natural oil than halibut it won’t dry out as easily. I use it frequently in fish tacos, baked fish n’ chips and soups.
I hope you give this laksa paste a try and let me know how you like it!
Sabrina
If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.
Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
📖 Recipe
Easy Laksa Paste and Snapper Laksa
Ingredients
Laksa Paste
- ½ c Cashews Or other soft nut like macadamias
- 1 small Shallot About 2-3 tbsp
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 stalk Lemongrass, white part only sliced into small rounds
- 1-3 Thai Red Chilis Depending on heat level desired
- 1 Bunch Cilantro Stems (Save The Leafy Tops For Garnish)
- 1 1" piece Ginger, Peeled And Grated
- 1 1" piece Turmeric, Peeled And Grated You can substitute 1 teaspoon dry ground turmeric if desired
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- 2 tablespoon Coconut Sugar Or regular granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
Soup
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
- 1 can Coconut Milk Regular, 400 ml
- 2 c Chicken Stock
- 1 c Water
- 1 tablespoon Fish Sauce
- 1 lb Fresh Snapper, Cut Into 2" Pieces, Any Bones Removed Or other firm fleshed Oceanwise cod
- 2 Baby Bok Choy, Cut In Half Lengthwise Or other asian green
Garnishes to serve
- 300 grams Rice Noodles, Prepared According To Package
- 1 c Bean Sprouts
- Leftover Cilantro Leaves
- 1 Lime, Cut Into 4 Wedges
Instructions
Laksa Paste
- For the paste, first process the cashews very finely in a food processor (or high powered blender). The smaller they are the better as this will help add "thickness" or body to the soup. Once chopped, add garlic, lemongrass, shallot, chilis, and cilantro stalks and process until they are a coarse paste then add remaining ingredients and process again until smoothly combined. (It should be a rough paste)
Soup
- Heat a soup pot on medium-low heat, add oil and then saute laksa paste (reserve 1 tablespoon to stir in at end) until it turns slightly darker and cooks through. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Add coconut milk and stir until well combined, add stock, water, fish sauce and remaining tablespoon of Laksa paste and bring to a simmer. Taste and season with salt or fish sauce as desired. Meanwhile fill 4 large soup bowls about ½ full with prepared rice noodles and set aside.
- Add fish and simmer until just cooked, approximately 3-5 minutes. 1 minute before it is finished, add in the bok choy and let cook just until wilted.
- Spoon fish, broth and bok choy over noodles in bowls and garnish with bean sprouts, cilantro and lime wedges. Bring a jar of sambal oelek to the table so everyone can season to taste and enjoy 🙂
Notes
Nutrition
Lisa
This looks and sounds delicious! Will be pinning it to make soon! Thanks for sharing!
SabCurrie
Thank you Lisa! Enjoy 😊
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
This looks lovely Sabrina! I need all the warming soups this time of year. I've never tried snapper, but might have to give it a go after reading your post!
SabCurrie
You won’t be disappointed if you get it fresh, such a mild flavour and firm texture and definitely warming with all the spices, I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Dawn
Looks so fresh and flavouful! I don't think I've noticed snapper 'round here, but would totally sub with another fish. Perfect for date night too 🙂
SabCurrie
Yes! You could totally substitute any (Canadian 😉) fresh firm fish 🐟 that you like best. Enjoy 🙂
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
Such great flavors that laksa paste! It would make an incredibly tasty soup. We like snapper and will give this lovely recipe a try. Thank you!
SabCurrie
I hope you love it as much as we do! It’s a pretty fast paste recipe and so much tastier than jarred paste 🙂
Denise@urbnspice
This recipe for BC Snapper Laksa looks wonderful, Sabrina! I am also a big fan of snapper - aren’t we so lucky to live in BC! Pinning to try your recipe - thanks for sharing!
SabCurrie
Thanks Denise, and yes we are so lucky having easy access to lots of fresh, delicious seafood here in BC.
Farwin
I crave for curries, warm and spicy this time of the year! I hadn't known much details about snapper and thanks for sharing! Love the soup, it looks gorgeous!
SabCurrie
Thank you so much Farwin! I agree, warm spicy food is where it’s at in the winter!
Lisa
Laksa is one of my all-time favorite dishes and I can't wait to try making this at home! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
SabCurrie
Thanks Lisa, I hope you love this recipe! I love the simplicity and clean flavours of all the whole ingredients. Cheers 🙂
Patrice
Love the spiciness of this dish and the homemade curry powder. Think it would be great with mint, basil, and crushed peanuts.
Natalie
I never tried laksa paste before. It sounds flavorful and delicious. I will put this recipe on my list to try. Lovely recipe! Thanks.
Jere
This looks amazing and so full of flavor. I have not heart of Laska but I know I need to try this.
Gwynn
I will definitely be making this!