Haw Mok Pla (Steamed Curry Fish Custard) ห่อหมกปลา

Haw Mok Pla (Steamed Curry Fish Custard) ห่อหมกปลา

Haw mok is a rarity: a dish intended as an appetizer or snack. It is essentially a custard made from curried steamed fish. A non curried set of ingredients is included as an "afterthought", though to avoid repetition I won't repeat the method - I leave that to the experience and imagination of the lovers of bland food. In Thailand this is steamed in little cups made from banana leaves, pinned together with tooth picks, but you could just as well use ramekin bowls.

2 eggs

1 pound white fish (cod), cut into small bite sized chunks

5 tablespoon finely chopped phak bung (swamp cabbage)

6 tablespoon red curry paste

6 tablespoon finely chopped, freshly toasted peanuts

3 tablespoon finely chopped bai makrut (kaffir lime leaves)

6 tablespoon thick coconut milk

2 tablespoon fish sauce

2 tablespoon corn starch

2 tablespoon prik ki nu daeng (red birdseye chilis) julienned

Mix all the ingredients but the peanuts, julienned chilis, phak bung and fish in a food processor. Line the bowls with the phak bung, then put the fish in the bowls. Stir the peanuts and chilis into the sauce mixture and pour over the fish. Leave a little expansion space at the top of the dish. Place the filled bowls in a steamer, and steam for 15 to 20 minutes (until the fish is cooked and the sauce has set into a custard like consistency).

Either serve the dishes 'as is' with the usual Thai table condiments, or for a more formal occasion, whip some thick coconut milk, and garnish each bowl with a couple of teaspoons of the whipped coconut milk and a slivered red chili.

Haw Mok (Fish Custard, Non-Chile Version)

4 egg yolks

2 cups coconut milk

2 tablespoon fish sauce

2 tablespoon corn starch
Follow the instructions for haw mok, the normal version.