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Amok Trey

Cambodia's national dish, the centrepiece of any Khmer feast and the proper-occasion food across the country. You start by pounding kroeung fresh in a mortar (the paste of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, garlic, shallots, kaffir lime zest and coriander root that defines Khmer cooking, and that no shop-bought paste comes close to matching). The kroeung fries briefly to bloom its aromatics, coconut cream and stock loosen it, and eggs whisk in to set the eventual custard. Chunks of firm white fish fold through with chopped greens (traditionally noni leaves, with spinach or chard standing in), and the whole mix spoons into banana-leaf cups (or small ramekins). Twenty minutes in a steamer turns the custard just-set around the soft fish, and the banana leaves perfume everything. Served from the parcels with steamed rice and a wedge of lime.

Cambodian 55 minutes Serves4

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

I’m a big fan of Thai chicken satay with peanut sauce. Although it isn’t necessary, it is best to marinate the chicken for at least a day. You could get away with 30 minutes but a longer marinating time will get you much tastier results. As the chicken soaks up that incredible marinade, it not only tenderizes it but makes it much juicier when cooked. This recipe could be used with thinly sliced pork or beef, both are also popular at Thai restaurants and takeaways. Pork is the meat of choice in Thailand but chicken is the most popular in the UK. I also like to serve this dish with cucumber and chilli relish.

Starters 35 minutes Serves6

Fennel Shellfish Laksa

A fragrant Malaysian noodle soup combining shellfish with a spicy coconut curry broth, rice noodles, and fresh herbs. The balance of heat from chillies and creaminess from coconut milk makes it a comforting yet exotic dish.

Malaysian 40 minutes Serves4

Goan Fish Curry

A Goan coconut masala paste is ground from soaked Kashmiri chillies, coriander seeds, cumin, peppercorns, garlic and ginger with fresh coconut and tamarind. Onion is softened in coconut oil with green chilli and curry leaves, the masala is fried until the oil separates, water and salt are added for a brief simmer, and the fish is slid into the gravy for a gentle poach. The dish is sharply acidic, deeply red and just hot enough.

Goan 40 minutes Serves4

Goan Prawn Pulao

A bright green masala paste of coriander, mint, green chilli, ginger and garlic is ground with a splash of vinegar. Basmati is rinsed, soaked and drained. Whole spices and onion are softened in coconut oil, the prawns briefly seared and lifted out, then the green masala is fried into the onion before the rice is added to toast. Stock goes in for the steam; the prawns return at the end so they don't overcook.

Rice 1 hour 15 minutes Serves4-6

Kerala Fish Curry

A masala paste of shallot, ginger, garlic and red chilli is bloomed in coconut oil with mustard seeds, fenugreek and curry leaves. Coconut milk is poured in and the curry brought to a simmer, then tamarind water and a tomato are added. The fish goes in last and poaches in the gravy for just long enough to set; over-stirring breaks the pieces.

Indian 40 minutes Serves4

Malaysian Curry Laksa (Laksa Lemak)

A two-part dish: a deeply concentrated prawn-and-chicken stock built from roasted prawn shells, layered with a freshly pounded laksa paste of dried chilli, galangal, lemongrass and candlenuts. The two are joined with coconut cream to create a glossy, fragrant broth that bathes rice vermicelli, tofu puffs and prawns. Finished at the table with sambal, lime, fresh coriander and bean sprouts.

Malaysian 1 hour 35 minutes Serves4

Ohn No Khao Swè

Myanmar's coconut-chicken noodle soup, the dish closest in spirit to a Thai khao soi but with its own Burmese identity. You poach chicken thighs in stock with shallot, garlic, ginger and turmeric for twenty-five minutes, lift them out and shred the meat. The stock cooks down with coconut milk, fish sauce and paprika, thickened with a slurry of chickpea flour and water into a silky soup. Yellow egg noodles cook separately. Everything piles into the bowl at the end: noodles first, soup ladled over, shredded chicken in the middle, then heaping garnishes (sliced shallot, crispy fried shallot, halved boiled egg, lime wedges, cilantro, chilli flakes). The garnishes are half the dish; eat with chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other.

Burmese 1 hour 15 minutes Serves4

Sopa de Caracol

Conch is tenderised by pounding (or by long cooking, whichever is at hand), then briefly simmered. Aromatics (onion, garlic, sweet pepper, achiote or paprika) fry in butter; coconut milk, water, yuca (cassava) and green plantain go in; the conch returns at the end so it stays tender. Cilantro, lime, salt.

Honduras 1 hour 5 minutes Serves4

Sri Lankan Chicken Curry

Whole spices dry-toast until smoky, then grind to a Sri Lankan curry powder (coriander, cumin, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek). Onion melts in coconut oil with curry leaves, pandan and lemongrass. Chicken pieces sear briefly; the spice mix blooms; thin coconut milk simmers everything until tender; thick coconut milk finishes the sauce. Lime at the table.

Sri Lankan 1 hour 5 minutes Serves4

Thai Red Curry

Gaeng phed gai, this classic Thai red curry features tender chicken simmered in a rich, aromatic coconut sauce infused with homemade red curry paste. The chilli paste that forms the basis of this dish has superb flavour and is worth making in quantity, as it's useful in all sorts of spicy dishes. Taking the extra time to pound herbs and spices using a mortar and pestle releases their fragrances perfectly, creating an authentic, restaurant-quality curry.

Thai 45 minutes Serves4-6

11 recipes