Rempah (Malay Curry)
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Curry
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 4
 

Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  12      ounces        sweet potato -- (red) *
  12      ounces        white yam -- peeled and cubed 1
   1      large         onion -- peeled and diced
   6                    garlic cloves
   1                    green chiles -- (to taste)
   1                    capsicum pepper -- seeded
   2                    fresh ginger
   6      tablespoons   vegetable oil -- or ghee
   3                    milk
   3 1/2  ounces        creamed coconut
   3      tablespoons   dried coconut
   2      tablespoons   tamarind puree -- (or tamarind
   1      teaspoon      coriander seed -- ground
     1/2  teaspoon      ground cumin
     1/2  teaspoon      Chinese five-spice powder
     1/2  teaspoon      garlic powder
     1/4  teaspoon      lemon grass powder
   1      teaspoon      paprika
     1/4  teaspoon      chile powder
     1/2  teaspoon      turmeric
   1      teaspoon      coconut powder
 

Preparation:

* peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes Add enough water to the spices to make a stiffish paste, then leave to stand for a few minutes. Make a puree of the onion, garlic, chiles, red pepper and ginger. Heat the oil and fry the spice paste for 5 minutes or so; stir to prevent sticking. Then add the puree and fry for 15 minutes. WARNING: The puree will sputter and splash quite a lot during this stage! Just grit your teeth and keep going! Combine the cubed yam and sweet potato with the above in a casserole and place in an oven preheated to 375F/190C. Cook for about 1 hour. Meanwhile, heat the milk and melt the block of creamed coconut. Brown the dried coconut under the grill. Halfway through the cooking of the casserole, add the two coconuts and the tamarind puree to the dish. Stir, and add some water (or vegetable stock) if it needs it - the finished curry should have a thick, rich sauce. NOTES: This is the curry I made for a dinner party on Good Friday. I used yams and sweet potatoes, but in the past I've used a mixture of broccoli and cauliflower with equally good results. Before becoming vegetarian, I used to use cubed lean lamb or beef. Whichever main ingredient is used, it's long been my favorite home-made curr