Videos on Preparing Laksa:
Makansutra Video:
The PrimaTaste packet impresses with its excellent quality and packaging. Much thought and care must have been put into the design and production of the spice packet. That may account for the premium price.
But if I can enjoy laksa so economically at food courts, why then did I buy a pack of PrimaTaste Laksa Mix? Well, I want to compare the PrimaTaste Laksa against one prepared using spices and raw ingredients. Certainly the premix saves time, but is it worth it? We'll find out in this trial.
Using Primataste Laksa Mix
For a premium pack, the cooking directions on the pack are poor. For instance, it is not clear whether the entire pack is used in the preparation or only a portion with the balance kept in the fridge (alluding to partial usage, with storage upto 3 days). The noodle quantity at 145g would suggest the preparation is for 1 person. But the 600ml gravy quantity suggests the entire pack is used to make the laksa gravy, since the quantity for a bowl is in the region of 200ml. Against this background I decided on my own method, with the pack's direction as a guide.
Ingredient:
Fresh Cockle, $4.80 a pack (Kim Guan Food Industry)
Prima Laksa Mix $5.50
Prawns (I also add squid, oysters, etc)
Fishball, $1 a pack of 10 from fresh yellowtail fish
Kara Coconut Cream, 500gm pack, $2 per pack
Laksa Noodle, 500g pack, (Lau Boon Heng)
Method:
Cook the laksa noodle
1. Cook the noodle, about 120g for 1 person, for 4-5 min in boiling water, taste for doneness. Drain the noodle and set aside.
Make the Gravy
2. Shell 120g prawns - that happens to be the leftover quantity in the freezer! I leave the head and tailend intact. Trim the sharp pointed tailend, sharp needle at the head and surplus whiskers on the head underside. Keep the shell to make the stock for the laksa gravy.
3. Boil the prawn shell in 1 liter water in a stock pot for 20-30 min. You will detect the rich prawn aroma soon after the water starts to boil. Filter the prawn stock and discard the shell.
4. Add to the prawn stock the entire packet of Prima Laksa Premix. This contains the coconut milk in powder form. For a creamier gravy add 0.5 cup (100 ml) Kara Coconut Cream.
5. Stir in the Prima Laksa Paste (with Laksa Leaves), 1 pkt. This is the laksa sambal paste. The aroma was noticeable from the open packet, an indication of its quality.
6. Boil the laksa gravy for a few min, then turn flame low, keep on simmer for the next atep.
Note: Despite the larger quantity of laksa gravy prepared, the broth still tastes right without any additional salt or sugar.
Prepare the Garnish
7. Fresh prawn, like any seafood, tastes sweet and tender when not over-cooked. To prepare the prawn for the laksa, place the fresh prawn in the simmering pot of freshly prepared laksa gravy. Remove as soon as the prawn curls up, an indication it has just fully cooked. The process takes place quite quickly - about 2 min - so you need to observe carefully. Remove and set aside as garnish for the noodle.
8. Next, cook the fresh fishball, about 1-2 min. Likewise, do not over-cook the fishball or they will become rubbery.
9. The fresh cockle need not be cooked. You can simply place the uncooked cockle on the noodles and it will cook just right when the hot laksa gravy is poured over the noodle. However, if you prefer you may steep the cockle in the simmering gravy to ensure it is properly cooked.
10. Cook crab-stick, fish-cake, tau pok, etc in the same manner.
11. Beansprouts (mung bean sprout or tow-gay) should be steeped in the simmering stock for 10-15 sec (taste test) to maintain its crunch.
Serving
12. To serve, garnish the laksa noodle with the cockle, prawn, fish-cake, fishball, beansprout, etc and ladle the hot laksa broth over the noodle. Enjoy your delicious Singapore laksa!
Remarks
PrimaTaste Laksa Pack is a simple and quick way to prepare a bowl of Singapore Laksa. Enriched with coconut cream, my version with prawn stock as the gravy base turns out to be a most satisfying meal! Delicious, moderately spicy, and wonderfully aromatic!
Seriously good.
UPDATE: 18-Mar-2012
The Prima Laksa was so good I dropped the idea of preapring laksa using a self-prepared laksa mix. If time permits I may revisit the idea to experiment, but for now I'm contented with the Prima Laksa Premix. Though I won't splurge on it as it is too pricey at $6.70 per pack. Better head for the Jln Besar laksa stall at only $3.50 a bowl!
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