Gordon Ramsay's Thai red curry with duck and lychees recipe (2024)

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Gordon Ramsay's Thai red curry with duck and lychees recipe (2)

The combination of duck and lychees in this dish marries perfectly with the spicy coconut sauce. I ate a modern interpretation of this dish in Chang Mai, which was served with rambutans - a close relation of the lychee. Here I have suggested serving one duck breast per person, to make it a more elegant dish.

Ingredients

for the curry paste

  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns,
  • 10 dried Kashmiri chillies, soaked and
  • 5 dried red chillies, soaked and drained
  • 1 red long finger chilli, deseeded
  • 2 cm knob of galangal (or root ginger), peeled and chopped
  • 3 kaffir limes leaves
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 5 shallots, peeled and copped
  • 2 tbsp coriander stalks, chopped
  • 2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed and chopped
  • 1 tbsp shrimp paste
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns,
  • 10 dried Kashmiri chillies, soaked and
  • 5 dried red chillies, soaked and drained
  • 1 red long finger chilli, deseeded
  • 2 cm knob of galangal (or root ginger), peeled and chopped
  • 3 kaffir limes leaves
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 5 shallots, peeled and copped
  • 2 tbsp coriander stalks, chopped
  • 2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed and chopped
  • 1 tbsp shrimp paste
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns,
  • 10 dried Kashmiri chillies, soaked and
  • 5 dried red chillies, soaked and drained
  • 1 red long finger chilli, deseeded
  • 2 cm knob of galangal (or root ginger), peeled and chopped
  • 3 kaffir limes leaves
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 5 shallots, peeled and copped
  • 2 tbsp coriander stalks, chopped
  • 2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed and chopped
  • 1 tbsp shrimp paste
  • 2 tsp sea salt

for the curry

  • 4 x 175g duck breasts, skin on
  • 1 pinch each of sea salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp groundnut oil
  • 400 ml coconut milk
  • 150 ml chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp palm sugar or dark brown sugar
  • 300 g bamboo shoots, sliced lengthways
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
  • 200 g fresh lychees, peeled, stoned and quartered
  • 4 x 175g duck breasts, skin on
  • 1 pinch each of sea salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp groundnut oil
  • 14.1 fl oz coconut milk
  • 5.3 fl oz chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp palm sugar or dark brown sugar
  • 10.6 oz bamboo shoots, sliced lengthways
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
  • 7.1 oz fresh lychees, peeled, stoned and quartered
  • 4 x 175g duck breasts, skin on
  • 1 pinch each of sea salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp groundnut oil
  • 1.7 cups coconut milk
  • 0.6 cup chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp palm sugar or dark brown sugar
  • 10.6 oz bamboo shoots, sliced lengthways
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
  • 7.1 oz fresh lychees, peeled, stoned and quartered

for the garnish

  • 1 handful of coriander leaves
  • 2 limes, halved
  • 2 spring onions, thiny sliced
  • 1 handful of coriander leaves
  • 2 limes, halved
  • 2 spring onions, thiny sliced
  • 1 handful of coriander leaves
  • 2 limes, halved
  • 2 spring onions, thiny sliced

Details

  • Cuisine: Thai
  • Recipe Type: Main
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Preparation Time: 20 mins
  • Cooking Time: 25 mins
  • Serves: 4

Step-by-step

  1. To prepare the curry paste; Toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a dry pan, tossing them over a high heat for a few minutes until fragrant. Put the spices, with the remaining curry paste ingredients, into a blender or pestle and mortar and blend or pulse until smooth.
  2. Next prepare the duck for the curry; score the skin of the duck breasts in a crisscrosspattern with a very sharp knife. Season generously with salt and pepper and rub into the skin thoroughly.
  3. Place the duck breasts, skin-side down, in a dry, hot frying pan. Immediately turn down theheat and cook over a very low heat to render down the fat. This may take 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fat. Turn up the heat and fry until the skin is crisp. Turn the duck breasts over and cook the other side for another 3-4 minutes.
  4. Just before the duck is ready, drizzle over the honey and soy sauce. Toss and turn theduck in the honey and soy and cook until the liquid has reduced to a syrupy glaze. Transfer the duck to a warm plate and leave to rest for 5-10 minutes.
  5. Place a wok or large saucepan over a high heat and add 3 tablespoons of groundnut oil. Add 4-6 tablespoons of the curry paste and fry for 1-2 minutes until the paste deepens in colour and smells fragrant.
  6. Pour in the coconut milk and chicken stock and stir well. Add the fish sauce and sugar and bring to a gentle simmer. Add in the remaining ingredients and allow the vegetables to cook through for 5 minutes. Taste the curry and adjust the seasoning if necessary with more fishsauce or palm sugar.
  7. Slice the duck breasts and set aside.Divide the curry among four warmed bowls and carefully place a sliced duck breast into each. Drizzle the glaze over the top. Garnish with the coriander, lime halves and spring onions. Serve with steamed jasmine rice.

Recipe taken fromGordon’s Great Escape South East Asia,published by HarperCollins

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Gordon Ramsay's Thai red curry with duck and lychees recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make Thai curry more flavorful? ›

Add salt (I added ¼ teaspoon for optimal flavor), to taste. If the curry needs a little more punch, add ½ teaspoon more tamari, or for more acidity, add ½ teaspoon more rice vinegar. Divide rice and curry into bowls and garnish with chopped cilantro and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, if you'd like.

What makes restaurant Thai curry so good? ›

An interesting characteristic of Thai curries is that they are made of fresh ingredients only. Contrary to the Indian cooking, Thai restaurant prefers to use fresh herbs and spices to make the curry dishes, including fresh chillies and roots.

How to make Thai curry thick and creamy? ›

  1. In a pot heat half the coconut coconit cream over medium heat until the fat full separates.
  2. Fry the curry paste in the fat for 5 minutes.
  3. Add a bit of coconut milk to incorporate, then add the rest. ...
  4. Season with fish sauce and palm sugar.
  5. Add protein and veg by cooking time.
May 9, 2020

How to make red Thai curry more spicy? ›

If you're looking for a spicier red curry, use hotter peppers. Thai peppers are excellent here if you can find them, but if not, use your favorite chili peppers of choice.

What are the secret ingredients to a good curry? ›

Indian chef Maunika Gowardhan suggests using tomato purée, coconut milk or yoghurt as natural thickening agents to achieve the perfect consistency. Adding ground nuts such as almonds or peanuts can also be a great way to ensure your curry is a knockout.

What is the most popular Thai curry flavor? ›

Green curry is considered the most popular curry. With coconut milk as one of the main ingredients, there is a hint of sweet flavoring as well. Because the green curry paste is made with green chilis, it is far hotter than other curries.

How do Thai restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

Often, Thai curries are made using coconut milk as the main liquid, which results in a creamy consistency.

Are you supposed to put rice in Thai curry? ›

Basically, it's depend on individual preference and the places you eat. At most street food shops, curry is put over rice as is usually we eat at home. If you order curry together with say fried egg or fish, each will be placed on either side so not to mix them.

Is Thai curry junk food? ›

Thai food is generally considered healthy due to its emphasis on fresh ingredients, lean proteins, and a balance of flavors. It incorporates a variety of vegetables, herbs, and spices.

What thickens a Thai curry? ›

Coconut milk or cream:

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Can I use coconut cream for Thai curry? ›

Both coconut cream and milk are staples in Thai cuisine, often used as a base for soups and curries. Choosing the right coconut milk can make all the difference to your dish.

Can you use coconut cream instead of coconut milk for Thai curry? ›

It is thicker, has a higher fat content and is scoop-able throughout. Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

How do you add depth to Thai red curry? ›

To further the complexity of flavors, we also add Thai sweet chili sauce, and the classic cast of Thai food characters: soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, dried basil and a bay leaf. Its a somewhat long list of ingredients, but most of them you are just dumping into the sauce.

What spice makes Thai curry hot? ›

Thai red curry gets its colour from the red chillies used in the paste. They can be hot, but the spice factor in this Thai curry is toned down a little by the inclusion of coconut milk. If you're making this Thai curry from scratch at home, you can always remove the seeds from your chillies to make it less spicy, too.

What vegetables are good in curry? ›

The curry base is made with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, red chilli powder and garam masala. I prefer to go with potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, cauliflower, corn and bell peppers. Though you can use other veggies like baby corn, sweet potato and broccoli, the curry will have different flavors.

How do you fix bland Thai curry? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric.

Why is my Thai red curry bland? ›

The most probable reason for the Thai curry to taste bland is that the flavor inducing ingredients such as galangal, garlic, onion are being added in less than required dosage. If the herb mix is not right then also the Thai curry may taste bland.

How do you give Thai curry depth? ›

As well as heat, you need something salty – shrimp paste, or fish sauce – and some aromatics, like lemongrass and galangal, as well as the shallots and garlic which give the curry pungency and depth.

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