
Denise says:
- Laksa is a spicy stew from Indonesia or Malaysia which makes a delicious main course soup. It is a tasty filling broth with chicken, coconut milk that is flavoured with lemon grass stalks, lime and Thai red curry paste.
- Lemongrass sticks need to be bashed / bruised with a rolling pin so that the flavours can be diffused during cooking.
- Red curry paste is now available from the kosher supermarkets which make cooking your own oriental recipes at home much easier.
- NB: If you cannot obtain lemon grass stalks you can substitute them for kaffir lime leaves.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking Time: 30 minutes
- Serves: 4 people
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts – skinless and boneless
- 4 baby aubergines – sliced lengthways
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste ( I used Taste of Asia from the Yarden shop)
- 400ml reduced fat coconut milk
- 600ml chicken stock
- 2 lemongrass stalks ~ bruised
- 150g sugar snaps
- Zest and juice of 1 lime
- 250g packet dried rice noodles
- Garnish: 1 lime cut into wedges, Bunch of fresh basil leaves
Method
- Pre heat the grill. Put the aubergine slices on to a baking tray, brush with olive oil and grill for 4-5 minutes on each side. Drain on absorbent kitchen paper. Cut into slices.
- Place the noodles in a large bowl. Pour over boiling water and set aside for 5 minutes. Drain and refresh under cold water.
- Stir fry the red curry paste in a wok or large frying pan for 1 minute. Add the coconut milk and stock. Bring to the boil and add the chicken and lemon grass sticks. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
- Lift out the chicken with a slotted spoon and shred using a sharp knife into bite size pieces.
- Return the chicken to the wok. Add the aubergines and sugar snaps. Simmer for a final 2 minutes. Stir in the noodles, zest and juice of lime.
- Season and ladle into bowls.
- To serve the stylish way: Garnish with basil leaves and lime wedges.
Tagged in: baby aubergines, Chicken, chicken breast, Coconut Milk, dinner, Indonesian, lemon grass stalks, Lime, Lunch, Malaysian, noodle, rice noodles