This sweet, spicy and fragrant chicken soup, called curry mee, is a happy contrast of hot broth, springy noodles and a madness of garnishes. Coconut milk has a particular weighty creaminess, called lemak, that can make some curries and soups too rich. Here, a combination of coconut milk and half-and-half is used to balance the broth.
Ingredients
- 2tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1small onion, minced
- 1tablespoon minced ginger
- 1tablespoon minced lemon grass or pale green cilantro roots
- 2cloves garlic, minced
- 1teaspoon dark red chili paste, such as sambal, more for serving
- ¾pound boneless, skinless chicken thigh or breast meat, thinly sliced and cut into bite-size pieces
- 3tablespoons curry powder, preferably Malaysian, Thai or Vietnamese
- ½teaspoon paprika
- 1can (14 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk
- ½cup half-and-half
- 4cups chicken stock
- ¼teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2tablespoons fish sauce
- 1tablespoon sugar, more to taste
- About 12 kaffir lime leaves or curry leaves, fresh or frozen (optional)
- 8ounces dried thin rice noodles (bun or vermicelli), or other Asian noodles such as udon or lai fun
- Salt to taste
- 1cup bean sprouts
- 3tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 2scallions, cut into thin rings
- 2shallots, thinly sliced and deep fried in vegetable oil until brown (optional)
- Quartered limes for serving
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
650 calories; 25 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 68 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 32 grams protein; 114 milligrams cholesterol; 1872 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is DiningAndCooking.com’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.Powered by DiningAndCooking.com
Preparation
- Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onion, ginger and lemon grass and cook, stirring, until softened, about 10 minutes. Do not brown; reduce heat if necessary. Add garlic and chili paste and stir until fragrant. Raise heat, add chicken and stir-fry one minute. Add curry powder and paprika and stir to coat. Then add coconut milk, half-and-half, chicken stock, turmeric, fish sauce, sugar and lime or curry leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook rice noodles in boiling water according to package directions (about 4 minutes). Rinse and drain.
- Taste broth and adjust seasonings with salt and sugar. Divide noodles into large soup bowls. Bring broth to a boil, then ladle over noodles. Top with bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions and fried shallots, if using. Pass limes and sambal at the table.
Tip
- To make this rich soup more substantial, boiled potatoes are sometimes added to the simmering broth and cooked until very soft.
Dining and Cooking