Penang Assam Laksa

Ingredients:

 2 small blue mackerel – cleaned

 4 cups cold wter

 ½ tsp salt

 2 cups tamarind water

 2 stalks sliced lemon grass – white part

 2 tsp turmeric

 1 tbsp blachan

 5 dried chilies – soaked, drained and chopped

 1 in galangal or ginger – chopped

 1 tbsp sugar

 350g/11oz thick rice noodles [laksa noodles]

Steps:

1. Cut fish into four pieces each

2. Add fish pieces to boiling salted water

3. Reduce heat

4. Simmer – 5 minutes

5. Remove fish

6. Flake off flesh by hand

7. Set aside

8. Put fish heads and bones back in water

9. Add tamarind water

10. Simmer – 10 minutes

11. Strain
 12. Blend lemon grass turmeric, blachan, chilies and galangal into a paste

13. Add to fish stock

14. Stir in sugar

15. Simmer – 10 minutes

16. Add fish

17. Pour boiling water over noodles

18. Drain and divide noodles into four bowls

19. Add soup

20. Garnish as desired

Serves 4