Curried Frogs' Legs

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02

Title: CURRIED FROGS' LEGS
Categories: Chinese, Ethnic
Yield: 4 servings

4 Pairs of jumbo frog's legs
-(about 1 pound), trimmed
1 Stalk fresh lemon grass,
-or 1 tablespoon dried
-lemon grass
2 Fresh red chile peppers,
-seeded and sliced
2 Shallots, sliced
2 Garlic cloves, crushed
1 1/2 ts Sugar
1 ts Curry paste
2 ts Curry powder
1/4 ts Salt
2 tb Nuoc mam
-(Vietnamese fish sauce)
2 oz Cellophane (bean thread)
-noodles
2 tb Vegetable oil
1 Small onion, chopped
1 c Chicken broth or water
1/2 c Coconut milk or heavy cream
1 ts Cornstarch
Freshly ground black pepper
Coriander sprigs,
-for garnish

This delicious lemon grass and coconut-laced curry
comes from southern Vietnam. If you prefer a very hot
curry, simply use more chile peppers.

Cut the frogs' legs into bite-size pieces. Rinse
with cold water to remove any chipped bones. Pat dry
and refrigerate.

If you are using fresh lemon grass, discard the
outer leaves and upper half of the stalk. Cut into
thin slices and finely chop. If you are using dried
lemon grass, soak it in warm water for 1 hour. Drain
and finely chop.

In a blender, combine the lemon grass with the
chiles, shallots, garlic, sugar, curry paste, curry
powder, salt and 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce.
Process to a very fine paste. Rub the paste over the
frogs' legs. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, soak the cellophane noodles in warm
water for 30 minutes. Drain. Cut into 2-inch sections.

Heat the oil in a saucepan over moderate heat. Add
the onion and saute until translucent. Add the frogs'
legs and brown well on all sides, about 3 minutes. Add
the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the
heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Uncover the pan and add the coconut milk, the
cornstarch diluted in 1 tablespoon of cold water and
the remaining 1 table- spoon fish sauce. Cook,
stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes.

Add the cellophane noodles and bring the mixture
to a boil.
Remove from the heat.

Sprinkle with black pepper and garnish with
coriander sprigs.

Serve immediately with rice, French bread or over
rice noodles.

Note: Instead of discarding the upper half of the
lemon grass, crush it and cook it with the frogs' legs
for extra flavor. Remove the stalk before serving.

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