400g dried shiitake mushrooms
2ltrs hot water
65g Essential Cuisine Wild Mushroom Glace
5tbsp tamarind paste
600ml hot water
2 red chillies, seeds removed
Lemon grass stalks, finely sliced
3tsp ground turmeric
3tsp grated ginger
250g chopped onion
3tsp dried shrimp paste
75ml vegetable oil
5tsp palm sugar
Red onion, peeled and finely sliced
1 cucumber, seeded and cut into strips
1. Place the mushrooms into a bowl, pour 2ltrs of hot water over them and stir in the Essential Cuisine Wild Mushroom Glace, leave to soak for 30 minutes
2. Put the tamarind paste into a small bowl and pour in the 600ml of hot water. Mash the paste with a fork, then strain and reserve the resulting liquid, discard the pulp
3. Process the chilli, lemon grass, turmeric, ginger, onion and shrimp paste in a food processor or blender, add a little of the mushroom stock to form a paste
4. Heat the oil in a thick bottomed pan and cook the paste over a low heat for 4-5 minutes until fragrant. Add the tamarind liquid and bring to the boil, simmer for 5 minutes then remove from the heat
5. Drain the mushrooms and reserve the stock. Quarter the mushrooms if large and add to the pan with their soaking stock and the palm sugar. Simmer for 25-30 minutes or until tender
6. Place the vermicelli into a large bowl and cover with boiling water, leave to soak, according to the packet instructions
7. Drain well, divide between warmed bowls, top with the red onion and cucumber then ladle in the boiling mushroom soup
You can use fresh shiitake or wild mushrooms instead of dried, just increase to 500g in weight and sauté quickly instead of soaking.