Name: Cambodian Tilapia CURRY with Coconut Milk Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1 lb of tilapia sliced thin (no bone only meat part); 1 can of coconut milk (save about 2 T for topping); 1 tsp of fish sauce; 1 tsp of sugar; 2 dried red big Mexican chilies (this is not hot, but it gives color to the food); 5 cloves of garlic; 2 pieces of galangal; 1/4 cup of sliced lemongrass about 1 stalk of white part only; 1 tsp of kapi this is Thai shrimp paste; 1 tsp of red curry; 1 cup of thinly sliced collard green or Chinese broccoli only the leaves part; 6 kaffir lime leaves cut to thin pieces. Save a bit just for garnish on the top.

Cambodian Tilapia CURRY with Coconut Milk Recipe

The Cambodian Tilapia CURRY with Coconut Milk Recipe offers a delectable combination of flavors, showcasing the fusion of traditional Cambodian ingredients with culinary influences from other Asian cuisines. The main components of this dish include thinly sliced tilapia, coconut milk, Mexican chilies, shrimp paste, and an array of aromatic herbs and spices.

To prepare the curry, a paste is crafted from lemongrass, garlic, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and soaked Mexican chilies, offering a vibrant and fragrant base. The addition of Thai shrimp paste and red curry paste elevates the complexity of the flavors, creating a rich and aromatic paste that is then mixed with coconut milk. This luscious mixture is combined with tilapia slices, fish sauce, and collard greens, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

The cooking process involves steaming the curry until the tilapia is perfectly done, with the unique twist of drizzling coconut milk and garnishing with kaffir lime leaves for a final touch of freshness. Traditionally, in Cambodia, this dish is steamed in a banana leaf to impart additional aroma and flavor, but a convenient alternative is to use a bowl in a bamboo or any large steamer.

The Cambodian Tilapia CURRY with Coconut Milk is typically served with steamed rice and an assortment of fresh vegetables like long beans, cucumber, and cabbage, offering a well-balanced and satisfying meal. This recipe not only introduces the delightful taste of Cambodian cuisine but also provides a versatile and accessible way to enjoy the rich flavors of coconut milk, spices, and tender tilapia. So, follow the straightforward directions and relish the experience of savoring your homemade Cambodian Tilapia CURRY with Coconut Milk.

Ingredients

1 lb of tilapia sliced thin (no bone only meat part)
1 can of coconut milk (save about 2 T for topping)
1 tsp of fish sauce
1 tsp of sugar
2 dried red big Mexican chilies (this is not hot, but it gives color to the food)
5 cloves of garlic
2 pieces of galangal
1/4 cup of sliced lemongrass about 1 stalk of white part only
1 tsp of kapi this is Thai shrimp paste
1 tsp of red curry
1 cup of thinly sliced collard green or Chinese broccoli only the leaves part
6 kaffir lime leaves cut to thin pieces. Save a bit just for garnish on the top.

Directions to make Cambodian Tilapia CURRY with Coconut Milk Recipe

Soak the dried red Mexican chilies in warm water till soft, squeeze the water off then cut it to small pieces set aside.
In a mortar and pestle pound the lemongrass, garlic, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, Mexican chilies to pastes
Then add shrimp paste, and red curry paste pound it all together till it turns to a red paste.
Add the coconut milk to the lemongrass paste that you just made mix it well together
In a big bowl add the lemongrass paste to the tilapia,fish sauce now add the collard green, fold it together gently.
Steam till the fish is done, with tilapia it won’t take too long. Turn the heat off drizzle with 2 T of coconut milk and sprinkle with the rest of kaffir lime leaves.

In Cambodia we steam this fish curry in a banana leave by making it to a deep bowl.

I don’t often buy banana leaves so I use a big bow and put all my fish curry mixture in, then steam in a bamboo steamer or any steamer that is big enough to hold the bowl.

We serve this fish amok with steam rice and lot of fresh vegetables like long bean, cucumber and cabbage.

Thank you and enjoy with your first made Cambodian Tilapia CURRY with Coconut Milk Recipe