Laksa Johor (Malaysian Noodle Soup)

Ingredients

• 1 lb Spaghetti
• 1 lb Fish Fillets (Mackerel or Sardines)
• 2 cans Coconut Milk
• 1/2 cup Dried Shrimp
• 2 Onions
• 2 inches Galangal (Lengkuas)
• 3 stalks Lemongrass
• 2 tbsp Chili Paste (Sambal Oelek)
• 2 tbsp Tamarind Paste
• 1 tbsp Palm Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 Cucumber
• 1 cup Bean Sprouts
• 1/2 cup Pickled Vegetables
• 1 Lime
• 1 tsp Agar-agar powder

Instructions

1. 1Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the 1 lb spaghetti in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain the spaghetti and set aside.
2. 2While the spaghetti cooks, place the 1 lb fish fillets in a separate pot and cover with water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily. Carefully remove the fish from the water, let it cool slightly, then remove all bones and flake the fish meat. Place the flaked fish meat in a blender.
3. 3Add the 1/2 cup dried shrimp to the blender with the fish. Add 1/4 cup of water to the blender. Blend until you have a smooth paste. Scrape the paste into a medium bowl and set aside.
4. 4Peel and roughly chop the 2 onions. Peel and thinly slice the 2 inches galangal. Trim and thinly slice the 3 stalks lemongrass. Add the chopped onions, sliced galangal, and sliced lemongrass to the blender. Blend until you have a fine paste. Add this paste to the bowl with the fish and shrimp paste.
5. 5In a large heavy-bottomed pot, combine the fish, shrimp, and onion pastes. Add the 2 cans coconut milk, 2 tbsp chili paste, 2 tbsp tamarind paste, 1 tbsp palm sugar, 1 tsp agar-agar powder, and 1 tsp salt. Stir everything together until well combined.
6. 6Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring frequently. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the bottom from sticking. The gravy will thicken as it cooks.
7. 7While the gravy simmers, prepare the garnishes. Thinly slice the 1 cucumber. Rinse the 1 cup bean sprouts. Ensure the 1/2 cup pickled vegetables are ready. Cut the 1 lime into wedges.
8. 8To serve, divide the cooked 1 lb spaghetti among 4 bowls. Ladle the hot laksa gravy over the spaghetti. Garnish each bowl with slices of cucumber, a handful of bean sprouts, pickled vegetables, and a lime wedge for squeezing.

Substitutions

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