“The star of this spectacular soup is laksa leaf, aka Vietnamese coriander, with its creamy, bright, lemony coriander flavour,” says food writer Mark Diacono. “Mint and coriander in a 1:2 ratio work well. Don’t be put off by the lengthy list of ingredients: it is as simple in creation as it is delicious.”
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 200ml coconut milk
- 30g tamarind paste
- 1 teaspoon shrimp paste (or use 1 tablespoon fish sauce)
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or use soft light brown sugar)
- 800ml chicken stock or water
- 100g chicken, diced pinch of salt
- 2 medium eggs, beaten
- 150g dried rice vermicelli or 2 portions of precooked noodles
- 150g raw prawns (shrimp)
- 300g beansprouts, or cucumber cut into matchsticks
- 1 bunch of spring onions (scallions), finely chopped
- 1 lime, 1/2 juiced and 1/2 cut into wedges
- 25g bunch of Vietnamese coriander
- Sambal, chilli oil or sliced red chilli, to serve
Read more: Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls
For the paste:
- 1 large shallot, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 lemongrass stalk, chopped
- 30g roasted peanuts or cashews
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons chilli flakes
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 11/2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground star anise
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
Method:
First make the paste. Blitz the shallot, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, nuts, 100ml water, salt and the spices in a food processor until smooth (add an extra splash of water if needed).
Read more: Asian-style Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large pan, add the paste and fry for five to 10 minutes, or until all the water has evaporated and the paste is starting to brown and stick to the bottom of the pan.
Stir the coconut milk, tamarind paste, shrimp paste or fish sauce, sugar and the stock into the paste, then bring to the boil. Add the chicken and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
While the chicken is cooking, add the salt to the eggs and fry in the remaining oil in a small frying pan to form a thin omelette. Flip and cook on the other side, then remove from the pan and allow to cool. Roll up the omelette into a cigar shape and cut into thin strips.
Cook or soak the noodles as per the packet instructions, drain and divide between four bowls.
Read more: The Famous Flu Fighter Soup
Add the prawns to the laksa and simmer for around three minutes until just cooked through. Add the beansprouts, spring onions and lime juice. Top the noodles with the sliced omelette and a couple of ladles of laksa. Serve topped with roughly chopped coriander and a drizzle of the sambal or chilli oil, and lime wedges on the side.
Herb by Mark Diacono is published by Quadrille, available now.
What’s your favourite soup? Do you enjoy cooking foods from different parts of the world? Share why in the comments below.
– With PA
If you enjoy our content, don’t keep it to yourself. Share our free eNews with your friends and encourage them to sign up.
