Chef’s Choice Massaman Curry Paste

$0.01

Massaman curry is a rich, relatively mild Thai curry that is an interpretation of a Persian dish. Other theories contend that massaman is a southern Thai dish, influenced by Malay and Indian cuisine or that its name is derived from the Malay word masam, which means “sour.” The flavors of the massaman curry paste come from spices that are not frequently used in other Thai curries. Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, nutmeg and mace are combined with dried chili peppers, cilantro (coriander) seeds, lemongrass, galangal, white pepper, shrimp paste, shallots and garlic to make the massaman curry paste. This paste is first fried with coconut cream, and only then are meat, potatoes, onions, fish sauce or salt, tamarind paste, sugar, coconut milk and peanuts added to create the dish itself.