There are many variations of laksa in Malaysia.

The most common is assam laksa, which is a sour clear soup with mackerel, and coconut curry laksa, which is this recipe.

The list of ingredients is long, but once you have made the (easy) paste, the rest is simple.

READ MORE: * Smoked chicken pasta bake recipe * Sam Mannering's spiced lamb shank recipe * Last-minute dinner sorted: Cook beef noodles with peanuts and lime tonight

1½ red chillies, deseeded and chopped

1⁄2 stalk of lemongrass (white part only), chopped

2-3 slices galangal or ginger root, chopped

1⁄2 tsp red chilli powder (optional)

200g-300g white fish, cut into big bite-size pieces

Tofu puffs (optional, available from the chiller in Asian food outlets)

30g dry rice vermicelli (or 80g cooked vermicelli)

85g dry egg noodles (or 300g cooked egg noodles)

Mung bean sprouts, coriander leaves, crispy shallots (from Asian food suppliers)