Thai Shrimp Curry

My 2012 New Year's Resolution was to post on my food blog more frequently. As with most resolutions it didn't stick past January and it's now been three months since I last posted on here. I have still been cooking and trying new recipes, but my will to actually post the results online has waned. This lazy Sunday afternoon has compelled me to do something productive and write this post up. I actually made this Thai shrimp curry recipe from Emeril Lagasse back in January, but I'm just posting it now. You shouldn't take that as an indication of my feelings towards the dish because it actually turned out very well. It had a nice bit of heat without being too spicy. It's a really simple dish, which anybody should be able to make at home. I'd recommend at if you want to take a shot at homemade curry.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1 large red bell pepper, cut into strips
2 medium carrots, trimmed and shredded
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons Thai Red Curry Paste
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 teaspoons palm sugar or light brown sugar
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons chopped Thai basil leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Cooked jasmine rice, accompaniment
Sprigs fresh cilantro, garnish

Directions
1. In a large wok or saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, bell peppers, carrots, and garlic, and stir-fry until soft, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Add the curry paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

3. Stirring, add the fish sauce and sugar, then the coconut milk and bring to a boil. Simmer until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes.
4. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until pink and just cooked through, about 2 minutes.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil and cilantro.

6. Serve over jasmine rice, garnished with cilantro sprigs.