Amongst the many emails from my favourite bloggers that arrive in my inbox, there are also a few online food magazine newsletters that inundate it (ok, there are more than a few). Most of the time I just give the email newsletter a once over and bin it. Sometimes, there are features and dishes that catch my eye and I actually log on and read.
Food 52, Saveur and BBC Good Food are the emails I find myself opening on a regular basis. They always have such an interesting take on a classic recipe or sometimes, a genius new one.
One such email from BBC Good Food had me perusing their site and reading an article on autumn recipes and so on. Amongst the many pages I flicked through, I happened upon a recipe for a pumpkin laksa. I didn’t pay much attention to it (probably because it said PUMPKIN 🙂 ) doing an once over and moving on.
A few days later, I was pondering about dinner and rummaging the fridge and store cupboard for inspiration. I had all the makings for a pad Thai and/or a Thai curry and as wonderful as both these dishes are, it was very cold outside and instinctively, my body was wanting a soothing and warming soup or something with noodles. For some reason when the temperatures fall, I crave noodles.
From the deep, dark abyss that is my brain, memory of the laksa recipe I had glanced upon, came rushing back. I had a vague idea of the ingredients and I just decided to make it my way with the flavours I wanted.
The Chicken Laksa turned out perfectly. It was warming and refreshing at the same time. It had the comforting, warm chicken broth and noodles and the freshness of crisp bean sprouts, zucchini squash and herbs.
After dinner, I did research laksa to see if my version was authentic enough to be a laksa or if it was just a Thai inspired pho. I had a lot of Vietnamese and Thai flavours running through a soup that is traditionally Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean. But upon further studying, I found out that there are basically 2 types of laksa:
“There are two basic types of laksa: curry laksa and asam laksa. Curry laksa is a coconut curry soup with noodles, while asam laksa is a sour fish soup with noodles. Thick rice noodles also known as laksa noodles are most commonly used, although thin rice vermicelli are also common.” (Wikipedia)
Since variations to the traditional are quite common, I decided mine could be called a laksa and since it does take flavours from a lot of South East Asia, it is also very much, a fusion dish.
The Chicken Laksa hit the spot that cold evening and has secured a spot in my “food for a chilly night” repertoire.
Serving size: 4
Calories: 795
Fat: 42g
- 1 Lb/500g chicken, sliced thin
- ½ Lb/250g thick rice noodles
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 shallots, sliced thin
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 5 tablespoons Thai red curry paste, separated
- 4 cups chicken broth, homemade or a good organic one
- 1 15oz tin organic coconut milk
- ¼ cup creamy organic peanut butter, optional
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, optional
- 1-2 zucchini squash, julienned
- carrots, julienned
- bean sprouts
- kale or spinach, shredded
- handful of mint
- handful of cilantro
- lime, cut in wedges or halves
- peanuts
- water, one measure of the coconut tin
- soy sauce or fish sauce for seasoning
- hot sauce, optional
- First, in a bowl, add the chicken slices and 2 tablespoons of the Thai red curry paste and mix together.
- Set aside to marinade for a few minutes (can do this ahead of time)
- Add boiling water to the noodles and allow to soak until soft, or follow your package directions.
- In the meantime, in a large pot, heat the coconut oil on medium heat and add the shallots.
- As the shallots begin to take on some colour, add in the chicken and begin to brown slightly.
- Add the garlic and ginger paste and the rest of the Thai red curry paste, cook for a minute.
- Pour in the tin of coconut milk and one tin full of water.
- Add the chicken broth and bring up to a simmer.
- Let simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the peanut butter and sugar if using.
- Check for seasonings, add soy or fish sauce if you need to add salt.
- Adjust the sweetness, if you like it sweeter add more.
- If you like it spicier add more curry paste or hot sauce.
- To serve you can drop the noodles into the pot of soup and heat up in there or you can scoop the noodles into individual bowls, add the garnishes and then pour over the soup.
- Also, if you like your squash cooked a little, drop them into the soup to soften
- Have a plate of the garnishes ready and everyone can add what they want to their noodle bowl.
What does your body crave on cold nights? Do you spend any time reading online magazines or email newsletters for inspiration?
Wishing you all a happy Saturday! I am having a tremendous time with my brother, it has been nice to hang out with him and just chill.
Nice combination of veggies you got there 🙂 If you like food52 + Savuer, you might like Epicurean, too!
Thanks Francesca. I’ve looked at Epicurean but don’t subscribe to them.
This looks so delish! Perfect for upcoming winter… thanks for sharing! 🙂
Priyanka recently posted..Chicken Tikka
Thank you, Priyanka!
Nazneen, your photos of this soup are stunning! I find myself opening emails from Food and Wine Magazine. I subscribe to their daily recipe feed. I must look into Food52 and BBC. Thanks for that info. I’m pinning these beautiful photos of this soup.
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) recently posted..Easy, Impressive, Smoked Trout Appetizer Over Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Thanks Le Ann!
I love those dark, dreamy pictures! I adore that rustic vibe all over! I’m in love with your version of Laksa! What gorgeous, fragrant post!
Your Highness, how may I thank you for such a beautiful recipe? 🙂
Hugs.
nusrat2010 recently posted..The Marchant of Happiness
Thanks Nusrat for your lovely comment!
As a Malaysian, laksa is a huge staple and you bet I’m going to get a few fix myself soon. Your version is perfect on a cold rainy day 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com recently posted..Apple Lattice Buttermilk Pie
Thanks Kiran! Good to hear from a native 🙂
My aunt is Malaysian and we always had curry laksa on her visits. It’s been so many years now, I forgot how much I love this one bowl meal!
Thank you! It hit the spot that cold evening!
I love laksa all the way, from the lighest, most spicy or even creamy….
capturing laksa is not that easy, i even made almost 100 photograph for my fish head laksa…hehehe
well done!
Dedy@Dentist Chef recently posted..Dry Aged Black Angus Striploin Steak with Spicy Balsamic Vinegar and Shallots Jam Recipe
Thanks Dedy! It does take some time, but I take that many for all my dishes 🙂
Wow! This laksa just look sooo delicious, this made hungry!
Filipino Kakanin Recipes by trina recently posted..Biko na Pirurutong Recipe
Thank you Trina! Thanks for stopping by!
I love all kinds of laksa but especially love yours as it has so many more vegetables. Perfect for one of those miserable cold and wet days. Have a super day. BAM
Bam’s Kitchen recently posted..Warmed Spiced Quinoa with Roasted Autumn Vegetables
Thanks Bam! It’s been cold here too, this hit the spot!
Oh this looks gorgeous! When I awoke this chilly morning it was certainly something that I craved to warm me up. I love a good laksa and absolutely have decided after reading your blog, that this is what we will be having for tea tonight!
I awoke on a chilly morning , and found myself craving a warming chicken laksa after reading your blog this morning. Look so inviting and loved the photos! We were going to have a lamb curry tonight, but have certainly changed my mind now!
ooooh, thanks Andrea! I hope it turned out well 🙂
Beautiful Laksa Nazneen, and I think you can definitely call it a Laksa! I love noodle soups in cold weather, but am naturally more partial to the lighter Vietnamese Pho (CPoo is after your own heart though, he loves a good Laksa!)
Jas@AbsolutelyJas recently posted..Brat is in da Haus
I find I slosh around too much after pho 🙂 I like some substance 🙂
The next time you make this I would be happy to come over and make sure it tastes right. This looks and sounds like something I would really love. I could eat noodles in any season but Asian flavors I could eat morning, noon and night! I am pinning this for future dinners!
Abbe@This is How I Cook recently posted..Kadayif, Kadaif, Kanafe, Kanofa or Whatever you Want to Call It
I’ll give you a call next time, Abbe!! Come on over 🙂
This is a perfect noodle soup full of harvest fresh veggies, would be delicious on a chilly night!
Thank you, Pamela! It was really good and hit the spot on our chilly night.
Oh Nazneen…..your photos are so enticing. I could almost feel the warm steam in my face and I find myself wanting to slurp the screen! This laksa must be so comforting. Beautiful flavors and your photos are just stunning! : )
Anne@FromMySweetHeart recently posted..Butter and Jam Bundt Cake #Bundtamonth
Thank you so much Anne!
Gosh, this looks so good! And really a great dish for chilly weather. Love all the flavors you put in this – very creative. Good stuff – thanks.
john@kitchenriffs recently posted..Quick Corn Relish
Thank you John! I appreciate your kind words.
Nansen, the pictures are beautiful.
I love laksa, and this one looks very tempting. It’s one of those dishes which work so well for parties, my friend threw a laksa party and all the accompaniments to the coconut laksa was kept separate and we had to assemble it our taste. It was fun.
Enjoy your weekend with our brother.
Ash-foodfashionparty recently posted..ACHARI CHICKEN – Chicken Curry simmered in pickling spices
Nazneen*- the autocorrect is annoying.
Ash-foodfashionparty recently posted..ACHARI CHICKEN – Chicken Curry simmered in pickling spices
Thanks Asha! I love the idea of a laksa party! I am going to try that one day soon.
Nazeen amazing photography of a fabulous recipe – I love that you used a base recipe as your inspiration for this Chicken Laksa – it is chock full of healthy and wonderful and also colorful ingredients – my kids enjoy eating these types of soups out of big, large bowls (not unlike the pretty bowls you used for this post) and I would really like to take the time and prepare this for my famly on one of these dreary days. Simply a wonderful post – so happy to come for a visit on a rainy Sunday morning!
Have a lovely Sunday!
TheKitchenLioness recently posted..FFwD: Comp̫te de Pommes two ways Рthe old-fashioned way
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I am so glad you enjoyed it and I hope you get to make it for the kids!
Yup, I’d definitely call that a laksa! A great one too!! x
Lisa the Gourmet Wog recently posted..Garden Share Collective – November 2013
Thank you Lisa!
I love laksa, in all its variations. Yours looks great!
Saucy gander recently posted..Cookies plus fun: chocolate, sprinkles, and giantness
Thank you so much!!
Noodle soup=the best comfort food! And I love thai flavors and all the spice in a good bowl of noodle soup like this. We usually go to a nearby Malaysian restaurant to get our noodle soup “fix”…it’s been a while and I think we need to go soon. Better yet, I need to make this recipe. Yum!
Monica recently posted..English muffin loaf bread (it’s so easy!)
Thanks Monica! I love noodle soups and they’re easy to make which is great!
This looks so yummy, Nazneen and perfect for a winter’s night – very warming. I love laksa and yours looks so healthy and fresh with all those vegetables in such pretty colours xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Spiced Apple Sauce
Thanks Charlie! One thing about noodle soups and laksa in particular, they don’t have enough vegetables. I decided to add extras. Turned out well.
This is a family favourite…I can’t tell you how much we love Laksa! We spent the entire winter devouring bowIs of this. Now I might as well break in to the screen and grab that gorgeous bowl in your post. I love your fusion twist in the recipe..a must try on my list!
I subscribe to a few websites but I am more about cookbooks and a few cooking shows.
Sugar et al recently posted..Cauliflower and Broccoli Gratin
Thanks Sonali! I’ve started loving soups on cold days. They just hit the spot perfectly. I love cookbooks, but I find I never cook from them. I hardly watch any shows though.
I need a big bowl of this delicious soup on these chilly, rainy days here in SA.
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..Chicken Stew in a Pumpkin Shell (Frango na Moranga)
Thanks Denise! It is really good on cold nights!
I am drooooooling. The bowl of fusion looks fabulous, and I could start my day with this.
Minnie@thelady8home recently posted..Sauteed potatoes, mushrooms and spinach with ‘Panch Phoron’
Thanks Minnie! Me too! I prefer savoury things for breakfast.
yes my favourite laksa. thanks for the recipe.
cquek recently posted..Sushi Zanmai @ Gurney Paragon Penang
You’re welcome!!
Oooh! This looks really delicious, I have to give it a go. I have to admit I struggle to keep up with all the foodie things that drop into my inbox. But there are some real gems. GG xx
Glamorous Glutton recently posted..Sunbury Antiques Market
Thanks GG! I agree, it’s hard to keep up with every new trend. I like to read about it but I don’t run out to make it!