Shrimp Cake ทอดมันกุ้ง (tod mun goong)

To make the shrimp cakes: Add the coconut milk to a sauté pan and bring to a boil. Add the curry paste and cook, stirring constantly, to reduce the liquid until it becomes a thick paste. Let it cool completely in the freezer while you prep other ingredients.

In a mixing bowl, add the cooled curry paste, chopped long beans, corn (if using), kaffir lime leaves, sugar, and fish sauce.

Grind the shrimp and the egg in a food processor until very fine. Add the shrimp mixture to the mixing bowl and stir everything together until well mixed. Put this mixture in the fridge, covered in plastic wrap, while you make the dipping sauce.

For the dipping sauce: Pound together the chilies and the garlic into a paste and transfer the mixture into a small pot. Add the sugar and vinegar to the pot and let simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken. The mixture will also thicken as it cools. While the dipping sauce is cooling, shape and fry the shrimp cakes.

To shape the shrimp cakes: Divide the shrimp cake into about 1 Tbsp portions using a small disher or a tablespoon measure. Once done, put the panko into a wide, shallow bowl. Wet your hands with some water, roll each shrimp cake portion into a ball, and drop the ball into the panko. If you want to make larger pieces, shape them into patties rather than balls so they cook faster. Continue rolling until there's no more room in the panko bowl. Spoon the panko over the shrimp cake to cover, and with dry, clean hands, grab each shrimp cake and gently press the panko onto the surface and set them on another plate.

To fry the shrimp cakes: Add frying oil to a pot until it's at least 1" deep. Heat the oil to 350 F. Drop the shrimp cake and fry for a few minutes, they will puff up and may crack slightly, which is expected. Once they are a nice golden brown colour, after a few minutes, put them on a paper towel-lined plate. They will continue to cook after they've been removed from the oil, and the colour will continue to darken from golden to brown. You can cut one open to check for doneness, but don't cut it right out of the oil - let it sit for a minute first so the residual heat can finish cooking them.

To serve: Right before serving, add the crushed peanuts and chopped cilantro to the dipping sauce and serve along side the shrimp cake. Serve these with some fresh cucumber slices to add a touch of crunch and freshness!

Do Ahead Tip: You can make the mixture, shape, and bread the shrimp cake the day before and keep them covered in the fridge. You can also make the dipping sauce several days ahead of time, keeping them in the fridge.

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