To make a Panang curry you need a good curry paste. They can be shop-bought, but making your own is well worth the effort. Also sometimes called Phanaeng curry paste, this is a traditional recipe from Southern Thailand.
Keep in mind that the best flavour comes from pounding all the ingredients in a mortar as the food processor oxidises the ingredients creating a muddy flavour. It is well worth the energy of clunking the pestle.
Fantastic. I make a batch, put it in a freezer bag and break off pieces as I need it. I also usually add peanuts as well to the paste. - 24 Oct 2013 (Review from Allrecipes SE Asia)