Fall

Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Soup with Cucumber

by:
January 12, 2015
3.8
4 Ratings
  • Serves 2-3
Author Notes

This is my favourite soup to have anytime I feel sick or cold or just want to feel good inside! I started making this years ago, and I've developed this to my taste over the years. I've added spices and then taken some out and this is the version I love the most.
I love the subtle citrus and earthy flavours of Lemongrass that is enhanced with Ginger. The chicken is perfeclty cooked and favourful, and the cucumber adds a surprising crunch and coolness. The coconut milk and chilli flavour perfectly balances each other as well adding a creaminess and subtle heat. I like to find an excuse to eat this & I'm usually good at always finding one! —Dini

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Ingredients
  • For the Soup
  • 1 liter Good quality Chicken Stock (Homemade or Organic is better)
  • 2 Lemongrass stalks (white part) bruised, or 3 tbsp minced lemongrass paste
  • 2-3 Red Chilli (at least 1 seeded chilli)
  • 1 1/2 inches Peeled Ginger, sliced
  • 1 Small Onion, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar or Palm sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • 1 cup Coconut milk
  • 1 Grated zest of a Lime
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1/2 - 1 tablespoons Chilli Flakes (adjust to your preference)
  • 1 Large Chicken Breast, thinly sliced at room temperature
  • Extra Salt to taste
  • To serve
  • 60 grams glass noodles (or rice noodles if you prefer)
  • 1 large cucumber sliced and julienned, chilled
  • Unflavoured oil to coat noodles
  • Boiling water to soak the noodles
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
  1. In a saucepan, pour the chicken stock and add to it the following - the lemongrass, 1 fresh chilli or 1-2 dried chilli, ginger, sliced onions, sugar, soy-sauce, and coconut milk.
  2. Bring to a boil on medium heat and then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 40 min to 1 hour. Add the lime juice and lime zest as well.
  3. In the meantime start preparing the noodles. Place the noodles in a bowl and add the salt. Pour boiling water over the noodles to soak and keep it covered for 10 minutes (a little less time than the manufacturer's instructions).
  4. Drain the noodles and drizzle in some oil to coat the noodles. This is to prevent the noodles from sticking together and turning mushy. You can use unflavoured oil or chilli oil if you prefer. Set aside until you are ready to serve.
  5. When the soup has simmered for at least 40 minutes, strain the soup to remove the onion, ginger, lemon grass and chilli. Discard this and keep the soup aside.
  6. In the same saucepan, heat 2 tbsp of oil and add the chilli flakes. When the chilli flakes start to sizzle and turn dark, pour the strained soup back in.
  7. Thinly slice a de-seeded red chilli (dry or fresh), and add it to the soup (de-seed it if you prefer less heat).
  8. Bring the soup back to a simmer, and add salt to taste.
  9. Once the soup is simmering, add the thinly sliced chicken. Let the chicken cook in the simmering soup (which should take about 10 minutes)
  10. Divide the soaked noodles between two bowls and add the julienned cucumber.
  11. Ladle the soup over the noodles and cucumber and serve immediately.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

4 Reviews

Christine B. January 14, 2015
This looks great. By chance, could you use dried lemongrass? It's all I can seem to find. Maybe an Asian Market would sell the paste?
Dini January 15, 2015
Hi Christine
I think it would be fine to use dried lemongrass! Probably use about 3 tbsp? I think I might even use 4 tbsp just to be on the safe side :)
I know that in Australia (Woolworths and Coles) and in the USA where I live they sell Herb pastes that can be found in Hyvee called Gourmet Garden!
boulangere January 13, 2015
You had me at the combination of 1/2 to 1 tablespoon red chili flakes, ginger, and lemongrass. Wonderful!
Dini January 14, 2015
Thank you so much! :)