Warming lemongrass chicken soup with vermicelli, chilli oil & peanuts

This tangy and warming chicken soup is both nourishing and hearty, all while ready in just 30 minutes. Bursting with flavour, this Thai style soup is also packed with plenty of green veggies like broccoli, spinach, and bok choy who are the real stars of this dish. 

Recipe brought to you by Fresh Start by My Food Bag

Serves: 4 

Ready in time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Soup

• 2 tsp oil
• 600g free range chicken breasts
• 1 broccoli, cut into florets
• 2 baby bok choy, quartered
• 1 tsp oil
• 50g tom yum lemongrass paste 
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 tsp fish sauce

Noodles

• 100g vermicelli noodles
• 100g baby spinach

To Serve

• 1 lime
• 200g mung bean sprouts
• 25g peanuts
• 1 tsp chilli oil (optional)

Method

1. Bring a kettle to the boil
2. Heat first measure of oil in a pot on medium-high heat. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Cook chicken for 3-5 minutes each side (depending on thickness), or until cooked through. Remove from pot and rest, covered. Reserve pot.
3. While chicken cooks, place noodles in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Use a fork to separate strands, then cover. Leave for 5 minutes, then drain and rinse with warm water. Return to bowl and cut in a few places with kitchen scissors to make them easier to eat. Toss through baby spinach to wilt. Set aside.
4. Cut broccoli into small florets and quarter baby bok choy.
5. Heat second measure of oil in reserved pot on medium heat and add tom yum lemongrass paste. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant and add chicken stock and fish sauce. Bring to a simmer and add broccoli and bok choy. Simmer for about 3 minutes, until tender.
6. Cut lime into wedges for serving. Thinly slice chicken. 
7. Portion noodles into bowls and top with soup and slices of chicken. Drizzle over chilli oil (if using) and top with mung beans and peanuts. Serve lime wedges on the side for squeezing. 

Top Tip

‍Use up any other fresh or frozen vegetable you have available to you. Green beans, corn or spinach would all work well.