Thai Noodle Soup

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Warming, cleansing soup: perfect comfort food without being unhealthy.

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Steps

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Heat the oil in a large saucepan.

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Add the garlic and shrimp paste and fry gently over a medium heat for 1 minute.

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Meanwhile , lightly crush the lemon grass stalks with a rolling pin or the blade of a large knife.

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To make the soup add the lemon grass , kaffir lime leaves and chicken stock to the pan , bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

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Meanwhile , drop the noodles into a pan of boiling water , remove from the heat and leave to soak for 4 minutes , before draining.

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To refine the soup , strain the stock through a fine sieve into a bowl , return to the pan and add the fish sauce , lime juice , red chilli and sugar.

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Simmer for 3 minutes.

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Add the egg noodles and spinach , or pak choi and simmer for a further 30 seconds.

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Finally , ladle into bowls , dividing the noodles equally between them and scatter over the cilantro leaves.

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Ingredients

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sunflower oil, garlic clove, shrimp paste, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, chicken stock, medium egg noodles, thai fish sauce, lime, hot red pepper, light brown sugar, fresh spinach, fresh cilantro leaves