Chicken Laksa

It's really messy. Messier than this photo gives credit for.

Got this recipe from Jamie and his 15 minute meals. Or, as I call it, “Hannah getting flustered and making a huge mess in the kitchen over 35 minutes.” Seriously, I never use as many pots/pans/chopping boards/food processors and knives as when I make stuff from this book.

I have never had nor made anything remotely like this before but the spiced, salty, thick and creamy broth is fantastic. In fact, it is so incredibly flavourful that you could easily eat this without the meat. 

Usually, I am not a fan of noodles (RICE 4EVA), but this is a definite improvement on the boil in the bag variety. And it uses my favourite veg. I think that peppers or baby corn could work instead of the green beans, but I always just work with what I have.

serves 2, and then some

Ingredients for the laksa

• 1 stock cube, veggie or chicken
• 1 neck of squash, peeled and grated
• ½ a bunch of spring onions
• 3 garlic cloves
• Thumb of ginger
• Coriander stalks
• 1 heaped tsp peanut butter
• 1tbsp soy sauce, sesame oil
• 1 tsp fish sauce (nam pla)
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp coriander
• 3 nests of noodles (I used thick, egg noodles)
• A pack of green beans, chopped into 2-3
• 1 leek, sliced (optional)
• 1 tin of coconut milk

For the chicken

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice
• 1 tsbp honey
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Method

Toss the chicken with the spice mix, salt and pepper. 

Fry over high heat, turning so it doesn’t burn.

Meanwhile, boil about 800ml of water in a pan and throw in a stock cube. Grate the neck end of the squash and tip into the pan of boiling water.

Into a food processor, add the garlic, ginger, chilli, turmeric, spring onions, peanut butter, coriander stalks if using, sesame oil, soy sauce and fish sauce. 

Blitz to a smooth paste and tip into the stock, alongside the noodles.

Add in the beans and coconut milk. When boiling, season with soy sauce and lime juice as needed and turn the heat down.

Drizzle the honey over the chicken, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with the laksa.