mild red chillies, finely chopped, small shallots, or 1 large onion, garlic, chopped galangel or ginger (more to taste), cashew nuts, walnuts or almonds, lime peel (from unwaxed limes), lemongrass, use 2/3 starting from the root. (Note: can be substituted by adding lime peel instead), juice of 1/2 or 1 lime (to taste- the paste should have a bit of sourness in it), ‘fish sauce’ (vegetarian) or soya sauce, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt