A hearty meal in a bowl, lightly spiced and packed with nutrient-rich vegetables. This dish contains a wealth of anti-inflammatory ingredients, including ginger, garlic and turmeric, together with immune-supporting shiitake mushrooms and coconut. Buckwheat noodles, also called soba, are a nutritious staple in Asian dishes and provide plenty of slow-release carbohydrates to keep you energized throughout the day.
SERVES: 2 • PREPARATION TIME: 15 MINUTES, PLUS AT LEAST 2 HOURS MARINATING • COOKING TIME: 20 MINUTES
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING: PROTEIN 32.3G CARBOHYDRATE 29.2G, OF WHICH SUGARS 24.1G FAT 16.5G, OF WHICH SATURATES 7G CALS 394
1 lemongrass stalk, chopped
1 handful cilantro leaves
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
¾-inch piece gingerroot, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon coconut sugar or honey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon garam masala
1¾ cups coconut milk
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into large chunks
4½ ounces buckwheat noodles
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 fresh red chili, seeded and diced
1 bok choy, cut into strips
3½ ounces snow peas
4 shiitake mushrooms, sliced
sea salt and ground black pepper
1 handful beansprouts, to serve
2 scallions, chopped, to serve
1 Put the lemongrass, cilantro, onion, garlic, ginger, coconut sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, turmeric, garam masala and coconut milk in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Pour over the chicken pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cover and leave to marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, or overnight.
2 Cook the buckwheat noodles with the sesame oil according to the package directions, then drain and refresh under cold water.
3 Meanwhile, melt the coconut oil in a wok or large skillet. Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade, and stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chili, bok choy, snow peas and mushrooms and stir-fry 1 minute longer. Add the reserved marinade and simmer 10 to 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Toss in the noodles and warm through. Sprinkle the beansprouts and scallions over and serve.
