Red Curry Paste (Phrik kaeng phet)

Phrik kaeng phet is the name for red Thai curry paste. Although there are variations, it's usually made with a combination of garlic, shallots, red chili peppers, shrimp paste, coriander, cumin, peppercorns, salt, coconut milk, nutmeg, lemongrass, and grated kaffir lime peel.

The ingredients are mashed into a paste with a mortar and pestle, and the paste is then used to make red curries that often contain pork, beef, shrimp, duck, or eel, bamboo shoots, pumpkin, and Thai basil.