Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry

泰式酸辣魚咖喱

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — finished dish

Total time: 45 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

A light sour tamarind curry broth surrounds white fish and crisp vegetables.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

600 g firm white fish fillets
250 g green papaya
150 g long beans
4 shallots
4 dried red chilies
3 cloves garlic

Sour curry broth

3 tbsp tamarind concentrate
1 tsp shrimp paste
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp palm sugar
900 ml water

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — ingredients

02

Tools

knife and chopping board
mortar or blender
lidded saucepan
ladle
food thermometer

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — tools

03

Steps

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 1. Soak dried chilies in warm water for 5 minutes and drain.

Step 1

1. Soak dried chilies in warm water for 5 minutes and drain.

Soak dried chilies in warm water for 5 minutes and drain.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 2. Peel and cut green papaya into thin bite-size pieces.

Step 2

2. Peel and cut green papaya into thin bite-size pieces.

Peel and cut green papaya into thin bite-size pieces.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 3. Trim long beans and cut them into 4 cm lengths.

Step 3

3. Trim long beans and cut them into 4 cm lengths.

Trim long beans and cut them into 4 cm lengths.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 4. Pat the fish dry and cut into even large pieces.

Step 4

4. Pat the fish dry and cut into even large pieces.

Pat the fish dry and cut into even large pieces.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 5. Pound chilies, shallots, garlic and shrimp paste into a smooth cu

Step 5

5. Pound chilies, shallots, garlic and shrimp paste into a smooth cu

Pound chilies, shallots, garlic and shrimp paste into a smooth curry paste.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 6. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and dissolve the curry paste

Step 6

6. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and dissolve the curry paste

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and dissolve the curry paste in it.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 7. Add green papaya and simmer for 8 minutes until almost tender.

Step 7

7. Add green papaya and simmer for 8 minutes until almost tender.

Add green papaya and simmer for 8 minutes until almost tender.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 8. Add long beans and cook 3 minutes so they stay lightly crisp.

Step 8

8. Add long beans and cook 3 minutes so they stay lightly crisp.

Add long beans and cook 3 minutes so they stay lightly crisp.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 9. Stir in tamarind, fish sauce and palm sugar until the broth taste

Step 9

9. Stir in tamarind, fish sauce and palm sugar until the broth taste

Stir in tamarind, fish sauce and palm sugar until the broth tastes sour and savoury.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 10. Lower the heat and slip fish pieces into the gently simmering bro

Step 10

10. Lower the heat and slip fish pieces into the gently simmering bro

Lower the heat and slip fish pieces into the gently simmering broth.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 11. Cook 5 to 7 minutes until fish is opaque and the thickest piece r

Step 11

11. Cook 5 to 7 minutes until fish is opaque and the thickest piece r

Cook 5 to 7 minutes until fish is opaque and the thickest piece reaches 63°C.

Thai Gaeng Som Sour Fish Curry — 12. Ladle fish, vegetables and sour broth into bowls without breaking

Step 12

12. Ladle fish, vegetables and sour broth into bowls without breaking

Ladle fish, vegetables and sour broth into bowls without breaking the fish.

Common mistakes

Hard boiling breaks the fish pieces.
Too much tamarind hides the fish flavour.
Fish with translucent centres is not done.

Tips

Taste sourness only after the fish sauce and sugar are dissolved; add fish at the end.