Basic Lemon Grass Curry Sauce

Ingredients

 * ⅓ cup lemon grass, sliced
 * 4 clove garlic
 * 1 tsp galangal, dried
 * 1 tsp ground turmeric
 * 1 jalapeño chile stemmed and seeded
 * 3 shallots
 * 3½ cups coconut milk
 * 3 lime leaves
 * 1 pinch salt or shrimp paste

Directions

 * 1) Purée together the lemon grass, garlic, galangal, turmeric, jalapeqos and shallots.
 * 2) Bring the coconut milk to a boil and add the pureed ingredients, lime leaves, and salt and boil gently, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes.
 * 3) Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring often, for about 30 minutes, or until lime leaves are tender and the sauce is creamy.
 * 4) Remove the leaves before serving.
 * 5) To prepare one portion, pour ½ cup of this curry sauce into a shallow vessel or a wok.
 * 6) Add ½ cup of meat or vegetables, bring to a medium boil and cook to desired degree.