Asian Noodle Soup - (supercharged gluten and grain free version)

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Course: Soup, Main Course

Servings:

This Asian noodle soup is the perfect comfort dish when you're craving something nourishing and delicious. Loaded with fresh veggies, tender chicken, and the unique balance of coconut water and lime, it’s a simple and wholesome meal that’s perfect for any time of year. Plus, you can easily tweak the ingredients to suit your dietary needs.

Ingredients

400 ml chicken broth or stock -or chicken stock
330 ml coconut water
1 tbsp ginger root -peeled and finely grated
2 clove/s garlic -peeled and finely sliced
1 red onion/s -peeled, halved and finely sliced
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 kaffir lime leaf (optional but recommended)
500 g chicken thigh or breast
2-3 cup/s vegetables (I've used sliced carrot, broccoli florets, shitake mushrooms, snow peas)
200 g noodles (of your choice) (I used a mix of zucchini noodles and a small pack of konjac noodles which are grain free and very much like a rice noodle, available in the health section of the supermarket or health food shops). You could also use rice noodles which are available in the Asian section of the supermarket.
1 lime/s -juice
1 red chilli/s -or chilli flakes, to taste
¼ bunch/s fresh Vietnamese mint leaves -or regular mint, coriander leaves and Thai basil are delicious (but optional)

Instructions

In a medium size pot, add the broth, ginger, garlic, red onion, kaffir lime leaf and fish sauce and bring to a slow simmer.
Drop in your chicken and simmer until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate and shred or slice. Set aside.
Now add your vegetables and simmer for a few minutes until they are just starting to soften. If you are using zucchini noodles, add these now too.
Add the coconut water and lime juice and bring back up to a simmer and take off the heat immediately.
Taste it and make sure it has a nice balance of sweetness (from the coconut water), saltiness from the fish sauce and sour from the lime juice. Adjust any of the flavours if needed.
In a deep bowl place your rinsed and drained konjac noodles (or softened rice noodles). Pour over the broth and divide your vegetables and chicken (returning any juices from cutting) between the bowls.
Garnish with chilli and fresh Asian herbs.

Tip

You can also make this using left over cooked chicken. If you do this you can skip the second stage of the method.

Make ahead

Re-heat in a pot over a low heat until just hot.

Store

Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

Gluten-free

Choose a gluten-free noodle.

Grain-free

Choose a grain-free noodle like zoodles.

Coconut-free

Replace the coconut water with more broth.

Vegetarian

You can substitute the chicken with egg (I'd make a thin omelette and add that sliced) and replace the fish sauce with a good pinch of sea salt. Use a vegetable broth to replace the chicken broth.

Vegan

Add extra mushrooms and tempeh and replace the fish sauce with a good pinch of sea salt. Use a vegetable broth to replace the chicken broth.

Onion and garlic-free

Replace the onion and garlic with an extra 2 cm piece of ginger.