Massaman Curry Paste (Prik gaeng massaman)

Prik gaeng massaman is a traditional curry paste originating from Thailand. Unlike most other curry pastes, the ingredients for this one are almost all roasted or fried before they're pounded or ground. The ingredients for the paste are usually cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, dried hot peppers, galangal, garlic, lemongrass, peppercorns, shallots, kaffir lime zest, salt, shrimp paste, nutmeg, and mace.

Once roasted, the ingredients are usually ground with a mortar and pestle, and if properly prepared, the paste should be dark red, smoky, and very fragrant. It's then usually mixed with coconut milk and added to chicken curries, most notably the eponymous massaman curry.