Ingredients

Thai green curry shrimp with fried basil

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon Thai green curry paste
• 1 400-millilitre can coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 12 large shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1/2 cup shredded basil

Garnishes

• 1 Asian eggplant, sliced on the bias ¼-inch (5 millimetres) thick
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup whole basil leaves
• 1/2 cup very thinly sliced red pepper
• 1/2 cup very thinly sliced yellow pepper
• 1/2 cup very thinly sliced green pepper

Method

Heat oil in a saucepan over high heat and add curry paste and half cup coconut milk. Cook for 2 minutes or until oil begins to separate from sauce. Add sugar, fish sauce and remaining coconut milk, and bring to boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 8 minutes or until thickened. Add shrimp, turn heat to medium-low and cook for 3 minutes or until pink and cooked through. Add basil and season with salt to taste.

Toss eggplant with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan over high heat and cook eggplant for 2 minutes a side or until grill-marked and cooked through. Cut cooked slices in half or in thirds if large. Reserve.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small pot. Add basil leaves to oil a few at a time and fry for 30 seconds or until crisp. Drain on paper towels.

Spoon shrimp and sauce over individual portions of rice, top with grilled eggplant and a small handful of sliced peppers, and sprinkle fried basil over top. Serves 4.