Fry

Chicken Tofu Laksa

by:
May 15, 2013
4
8 Ratings
Chicken Tofu Laksa
Photo by James Ransom
  • Prep time 25 minutes
  • Cook time 50 minutes
  • Serves 5
Author Notes

This recipe was my second attempt at laksa, a tangy and spicy Southeast Asian soup, using a combination of different recipes and ideas from around the web. The ingredient list is fairly long, but the soup itself is quick and easy to make and really satisfying. This version has chicken and tofu, but it can be made with any combination of chicken, shrimp, or tofu. —Snafu06

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Snafu06 has been a member of the Food52 community for the past four years and cooks from a variety of cuisines.
WHAT: A sweet and tangy Asian noodle soup that's easy to throw together.
HOW: Don't be put off by the long ingredient list -- once you've raided your fridge and pantry, it's only a matter of cooking shallots, shrimp paste, and chicken in ground spices, then simmering them in coconut milk, tofu, and chicken broth. Pour the soup base over a bowl of rice noodles, add some garnishes, and you're slurp-ready.
WHY WE LOVE IT: As if the beautiful yellow color of the soup wasn't enough to brighten this winter (spring?) day, one spoonful and we were sold. The flavors complement each other beautifully: The spices are balanced by sweet coconut milk, then brought back out by the cilantro and lime garnishes. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 cups firm tofu, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 4 cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 8 chiles de árbol, stemmed
  • 4 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, divided
  • 3 shallots, sliced
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon shrimp paste (available in the Asian aisle of supermarkets or at Asian markets); omit if you're adding shrimp or prawns
  • 1 (13 1/2–ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 lemon grass stalks, bottom three inches, tough outer skin removed, lightly crushed (just to start the juices releasing)
  • 1 quart low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 pound rice noodles, cooked to package directions (I use wide ones, but this is a personal preference)
  • 1/2 cup mung beans (canned is fine if you can't find them fresh, but make sure to rinse and drain them)
  • 1/3 cup mint leaves, roughly chopped (optional, for garnish)
  • 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • 2 limes, cut into wedges (for garnish)
Directions
  1. Bring well salted water to a boil. Put the tofu in a bowl and pour the salted water over the tofu. Let sit for 15 minutes.
  2. Grind coriander, peppercorns, cumin, fennel, cloves, turmeric, and chiles. Set aside.
  3. Remove tofu from water and place in a single layer on a clean dishcloth to dry. Cover with another towel and pat dry.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a non-stick skillet or a wok over high heat. Add the tofu in batches and fry until golden brown. Don't overcrowd the pan. Set the tofu aside to cool.
  5. Heat the rest of the oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the oil glistens, add the shallots and ground spices. Cook, stirring often, just until the shallots start to become translucent, about 1 minute.
  6. Add the chicken and shrimp paste, and continue to cook, 1 to 2 minutes more. Turn down the heat if the spices or shallots look like they're going to burn.
  7. Add the coconut milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon stick, tofu, lemon grass, and chicken broth.
  8. Return the temperature to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for twenty minutes or so, until the chicken is cooked through.
  9. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions.
  10. Divide the noodles among the serving bowls. Spoon the broth over the noodles. Top with mung beans, then garnish with the mint and cilantro. Add a lime wedge to each bowl and serve immediately.
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13 Reviews

Beth
Beth September 11, 2022
This recipe is such a keeper! I left out the chiles due to an allergy, and used highly embellished bone broth, and it will be my go-to Southeat Asian soup. I would suggest you edit "mung beans" to read "bean sprouts." I have split mung beans and kept trying to figure out how they would fit in 'til it dawned on me.
 
J.
J. January 9, 2022
Maybe I had unreasonable expectations for this. Making it as written all you taste is the heat. I may try again with half the chili de Arbol but will probably just use Laksa paste.
 
eatchimac
eatchimac March 30, 2021
Oh, I didn’t try Chicken Tofu Laksa Recipe. Now I can make it at home. So glad for sharing this recipe Now I can make it at home. It looks delicious. Now I can share your blog with my friend circle. I am so glad after seeing your recipe, Thanks for sharing this recipe. Food is one of the biggest topics of conversation online and offline. Keep it up, I am waiting for your next recipe!
https://eatchimac.com/
 
WasteNada
WasteNada September 26, 2018
This recipe is delicious! I wasn't able to find shrimp paste or the chiles de arbol so I substituted with anchovy paste and two fresh habeneros. This one is definitely going into the rotation.
 
Felicia G.
Felicia G. April 20, 2018
I havent tried it yet. But this recipe seems interesting. But from the look, it looks more like Thai Khao soi, or indonesian Lodeh than laksa. I thought laksa usually are reddish in color?
 
emcsull
emcsull January 20, 2017
Here we go again. What kind of chilis could I substitute ? Don't think I could get those . Thanks !
 
Snafu06
Snafu06 January 20, 2017
They're generally pretty easy to get online if no one around you sells them. If you can't get them that way, you could try a different dried pepper or chile powder.
 
Anneliese M.
Anneliese M. January 4, 2017
I have never seen instructions to soak tofu in hot salted water first - what is the purpose of this? Most recipes I see indicate to press water out of the tofu before cooking.
 
Snafu06
Snafu06 January 4, 2017
It is just a method of seasoning the tofu.
 
Melissa
Melissa October 11, 2015
Great flavour! I halved the whole spices and chillies because I like food more mildly spiced. I'll make again. Thanks!
 
Snafu06
Snafu06 October 11, 2015
Glad you liked it. I'd suggest just seeding the chilis instead of cutting back to reduce the spice but if you liked your results who am I to question.
 
DG
DG March 24, 2015
Wonderful recipe. Very indonesian feel to me. Add a chile sambal to your own taste and it sings. used pressure cooked mung beans....worth the addition. I had no shrimp paste so I used a lobster 'better than bouillon' .... I think I may add some gochujang (korean chili bean paste) for a new twist next time. I loved the dish and so did my wife and kids.
 
Snafu06
Snafu06 March 24, 2015
Glad to hear you liked it. Let me know how the gochujang turns out. I have a fridge full, but never considered it in this.