Laksa is a Singaporean noodle dish regarded as the ultimate comfort food among its people. It is made with rice noodles, chicken, prawns or fish, and everything is served in a flavorful and spicy curry coconut milk broth. It is also a famous delicacy often prepared in every Singaporean household. Here is how to prepare this meal at home (for 2 people).

Ingredients

8 king prawns *de-shelled

1 tablespoon of palm sugar

1 tablespoon of fish sauce

400 ml of coconut milk

100 grams of tofu *halved

2 tablespoons of cooking oil

Prawn Stock

8 king prawns (for head and shells)

1.2 ml of water

480 ml of chicken stock

2 tablespoons of cooking oil

Laksa Paste

15 dried chilis

2 fresh red chilis

3 tablespoons of dried shrimp *soaked

1 teaspoon of shrimp paste

8 garlic cloves

1 shallot

1 ginger

1 turmeric root (about 5 cm)

30 grams of candlenuts

1 stalk of lemongrass

To serve

200 grams of rice noodle *cooked

100 grams of bean sprouts

8 cockles

1 bunch of laksa leaves

2 tablespoons of chili paste (optional)

Recipe:

1. Remove the heads and shells from the prawns and set aside in a bowl. Then, devein and set the prawn meat aside in a separate bowl.

2. To make the prawn stock, add cooking oil to a large saucepan on medium-high heat. Add prawn heads and shells then stir for 5 minutes, crushing the heads to release the flavor.

3. Add water and chicken stock, then simmer for 45 minutes to allow the stock to reduce.

4. Remove the prawn shells then strain the broth into a bowl through a sieve.

5. In a food processor, add the dried chilis, fresh red chilis, dried shrimp, shrimp paste, garlic cloves, shallots, ginger, turmeric root, candlenuts, and lemongrass stalk. Then, pulse for 5 minutes until a thick paste forms. 

6. Add cooking oil to a large saucepan then add the laksa paste and cook for 5 minutes until fragrant.

7. Add the palm sugar, fish sauce, coconut milk, and prawn stock, then stir and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes. Finally, add the prawns and tofu, cooking for 3 minutes.

8. To serve, add the rice noodles to a bowl then top it with bean sprouts and cockles. Ladle in the laksa balls and add the tofu puffs and prawns. Garnish with a handful of finely chopped laksa leaves and chili paste (optional).

Enjoy your meal!