Yellow Curry Paste - cooking recipe

Ingredients

7 dried hot red chilies (long ones of the cayenne variety)
5 ounces shallots, chopped (140g)
1 tablespoon fresh lemongrass, that has been thinly sliced crossways
10 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped (10 if small or 5 if large)
1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped (2 1/2cm)
1/2 teaspoon white pepper powder
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon shrimp paste, chopped or 3 anchovies, from a can chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

Preparation

Soak the red chillies in 5 tablespoons hot water for 1-2 hours. (You could also put them in a microwave oven for 2-3 minutes and then let them sit for 20-30 minutes.)
Put the chillies, together with their soaking liquid, into a blender along with all the remaining ingredients in the order listed.
Blend, pushing down with a rubber spatula as many times as necessary, until you have a smooth paste.
What you do not use immediately should be refrigerated or frozen.