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

  1. 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.
  2. Place the noodles in a large bowl. Pour over boiling water and set aside for 5 minutes. Drain and refresh under cold water.
  3. 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.
  4. Lift out the chicken with a slotted spoon and shred using a sharp knife into bite size pieces.
  5. 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.
  6. Season and ladle into bowls.
  7. 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