Ingredients (serves 2)
• 1 of 400ml can light coconut cream
• 1/2 Chinese barbecue duck, skin and bones removed, coarsely chopped
• 1 tbs fish sauce
• 1 tbs brown sugar
• 1 of 565g can of lychees, drained
• 14 cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup firmly packed fresh Thai basil leaves
• 3 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined, roughly torn
• 1 fresh red chilli, sliced lengthways
• 1 fresh green chilli, sliced lengthways
• Steamed jasmine rice, to serve
Curry paste
• 5 dried red chillies, soaked in warm water, drained
• 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
• 3 tsp finely chopped fresh lemon grass
• 1 tsp finely chopped fresh galangal
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tsp finely chopped fresh coriander roots
• 1/2 tsp finely grated Kaffir lime rind
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• 3 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp rock salt
• 1 tsp shrimp paste
Method:
1. To make curry paste, place chillies, onion, lemon grass and galangal in a mortar and pestle, and pound until crushed. Add garlic, coriander roots and lime rind, and pound until crushed. Add peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, salt and shrimp paste, and pound until smooth. (Alternatively, place in a small food processor and process until smooth.)
2. Place 125ml (1/2 cup) of the coconut cream in a medium wok or medium frying pan over a medium-high heat and bring to the boil. Add 2 tablespoons of the curry paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
3. Add the remaining coconut cream, duck, fish sauce and sugar. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until sauce thickens. Add the lychees, tomatoes, Thai basil, Kaffir lime leaves and red and green chillies, and cook, stirring until heated through. Divide among serving bowls and serve with the rice.
Notes:
• You will need to buy 1/2 a Chinese barbecue duck for the recipe, available from most Chinese food stores. If unavailable, substitute with 200g duck breasts pan-fried over medium heat for 4 minutes each side. Galangal and Thai basil are available from most supermarkets and Asian grocery stores. Kaffir limes are available from some green grocers (substitute with a regular lime if unavailable). You can also replace the curry paste with 2 tablespoons of bought red curry paste.
