My Noodle Obsession

When I know I like something I tend to get a little obsessed about it! Especially with food! I go through phases of liking things and wanting to have it all the time! Throughout most of August it was ice-cream! Understandable considering it was nearly 30degrees for the majority of August! But not just any ice-cream, Ben & Jerry’s Topped Salted Caramel Brownie. My days I spent so much money on that ice-cream!

But now I am obsessed with Vietnamese Noodles, Bun Ga Nuong! Made with Rice Noodles, herbs, vegetables, crispy onions, peanuts and Nuoc Cham (a chilli and garlic dipping sauce) and served at room temperature. I like them because they aren’t really unhealthy. I have found it! A healthy takeaway! Traditionally a street food staple in Vietnam, these noodles have become a part of my go to recipes for when I am wanting something quick and healthy but full of flavour! Healthy doesn’t have to mean boring!

My obsession began when I went into London Westfields one day and decided I wanted to try something different! I had seen that there was always a large queue at Pho within the food court and wondered what the fuss was about. I don’t know why but I have always been a bit nervous about trying Thai/Vietnamese foods so I read the menu and decided to try the Bun Ga Nuong, this is the lemongrass chicken. It came with all the trimmings and Pho also serve their Bun with a veggie spring roll and the Nuoc Cham in a little bowl to pour over yourself.

I loved the different textures and flavours that you get with this. The peanuts and crispy onions give you an amazing crunch against the soft rice noodles. I used the spring roll to mop up and juices at the bottom of the bowl when I had finished. Its so fresh but definitely feels like a guilty treat! I couldn’t resist the idea of making this at home so I had a look on google and tried to find a recipe that looked very similar to Pho’s. I looked and found a few very traditional recipes which I most probably should have tried but I came across a video from Spoon Fork Heart that looked very similar. Siri is Thai food blogger and she too liked the noodles she got within her local so recreated it at home.

I followed her recipe using products I had found in my local Sainsbury’s. The marinade for the chicken was so simple to make! Using fresh lemongrass, shallots, fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil it was so simple. I had cut the chicken breast into thinner pieces so it cooked quicker.

The smell floating around my little kitchen were amazing! As well as eating it, I do feel as though the smells from this dish, from the lemongrass on the chicken, the fresh chopped herbs and chilli within the Nuoc Cham, is my favourite thing about cooking this dish.

The noodles are just a nest of noodles that I cooked to the packet instructions. and then I assembled my bowl! Putting the lettuce, herbs cucumber at the bottom. Next comes the noodles, bean sprouts, carrots, and then top that with the sliced chicken. And then top with chopped peanuts and some crispy onions. My little cheat for this though is that in the speciality ingredients section in Sainsbury’s they sell a bottle of the Nuoc Cham. I have made the dressing before but I ended up making a bit too much and had a lot left over that I didn’t have anyway of storing. So when I saw this I thought ‘GET IN’ now I have some all the time for whenever I am craving noodles!

Give these noodles a go! Trust me! If you are wanting an introduction to trying Vietnamese/Thai Food then these are a perfect place to start! You can increase the heat by adding in fresh chilli. I didn’t put coriander in mine as I am not a massive fan of it but that too adds to the flavour and I do like it when I it wilts into this dish. I hope you too become as obsessed as I am with this dish! Its amazing! I treated myself to a new bowl and chopsticks just for this!

 

Chinese New Year

The year of the Rooster is now upon us! So to celebrate I thought I would show you a dish that has become a go to recipe that I feel is a perfect dish to cook in honour of the Chinese New Year! The Mighty Duck Noodles! This recipe is from Joe Wick Lean in 15 1st cook book! I love his meals, they are so quick and easy to make. Even if you don’t following his programme in terms of exercising to have a high carb meal, these meals are simply delicious!
Cooking duck has always been a slightly scary thing for myself, and its also classed as an expensive meat in my home. Duck was a meat that I associated with Chinese cooking from a young age due to Peking Duck! This stir fry, noodle dish has all the elements of Peking Duck Wraps but it becomes doable for you to cook in your own home!

The duck is quickly fried before adding everything else in with some Chinese 5 Spice! 5 Spice is the unused spice in your cupboard. Well thats what Michael McIntyre says anyway! But just a tsp of this spice adds heaps of flavour! With this dish I also added in some green beans to really up the veg content! You finish this dish off with some fresh cucumber batons and the hoisin sauce which just coats the noodles at the very end.

If you haven’t got Joe Wick’s 1st book of his Lean in 15 series then you seriously need to just for this recipe! So give it a go and it may even make up think twice about ordering a takeaway!