Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 med onion
- 1 medium shallot
- 8 ounces (225g) carrots , sliced on an angle into 1/4 inch wide slices
- 4 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste*
- 2–3 tablespoons red curry paste , available in the Asian section at most larger grocers
- 2 teaspoon mild curry powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 32 ounces (1 litre) chicken broth
- 6 ounces (175g) small yellow potatoes, sliced in half lengthwise, then sliced widthwise into bite size pieces
- 2 ounces (60g) rice noodles or rice sticks, available in the Asian section at most larger grocers
- 2 15-ounce (450ml) cans coconut milk, I almost always use the light variety
- 1–2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ med red bell pepper, quartered lengthwise and then sliced crosswise
- ½ med yellow bell pepper, halved lengthwise then sliced crosswise
- 2–3 heads baby bok choy, root end trimmed about ½ inch, then thinly sliced, lengthwise
- 1 ½ cups (240g) tiny frozen peas
- 1 pound (450g) boneless skinless chicken breast, frozen for 30 minutes then sliced thinly (freezing will make it much easier to slice)
- fresh basil
- fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oil till shimmering in a large pot or dutch oven, then add onion, carrots and shallot. Cook 3-4 minutes until veggies begin to soften. Add ginger, lemongrass and curry pastes, curry powder, brown sugar and cilantro. Cook another minute until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, then add potatoes. Simmer another 10 minutes or until carrots and potatoes are very tender.
- Add rice noodles (break them up if they’re long) and simmer five more minutes.
- Add coconut milk and return to a simmer. Immediately** add chicken, baby bok choy, peppers and peas. Cover and turn off heat. Let sit on hot burner, covered for 5 minutes. The chicken will cook during this rest time but will remain tender and velvety – if you add the chicken earlier it will over cook and become tough. Serve with jasmine rice and a sprinkle of fresh basil and cilantro for garnish. I also love to garnish with diced avocado.
Notes
* You can use an equal amount of fresh, finely chopped lemongrass in lieu of the lemongrass paste.I do however like to keep this condiment on hand as most of my local grocers don’t carry fresh lemongrass. This paste is becoming quite easy to find – I’ve noticed they’re even carrying it in the produce section at Super Walmart.)
** Coconut milk will separate and lose it’s lovely consistency if boiled or simmered too long.