´óÏó´«Ã½

by Marcus Bean

Fresh curry paste will put the wow-factor into your homemade curries. Plus, it's easy to put together and keeps well.

Other

Buyer's guide

Buy fresh chilli paste from Asian stores. It should have a vibrant red colour, which will become darker and ‘muddier’ upon keeping. It should not be confused with the more commercially available chilli sauce or chilli oil.

Storage

Store the paste in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator. Cover completely with oil, or it may become mouldy. Keep the oil topped up at regular intervals to prevent it from turning rancid. The paste will keep for several months.