easy prawn laksa
Fragrant, spicy and coconutty, prawn laksa is the perfect quick and delicious dinner. Using ready-made laksa paste makes cooking easy and rice noodles take just minutes to cook.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp laksa paste
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp light brown soft sugar
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- ½ tbsp tamarind paste
- 1 lime, finely grated zest and juice
- 400ml tin coconut milk
- 100ml/3½fl oz fresh chicken stock, gluten-free if required
- 85g/3oz baby spinach leaves
- 200g/7oz raw king prawns, shelled with the tails on (if desired)
- 100g/3½oz wide flat rice noodles or rice vermicelli
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and fry for 5 minutes, stirring regularly. Reduce the heat, add the laksa paste and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the garlic, sugar, fish sauce, tamarind and the lime zest and juice. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Add the coconut milk and stock and boil for 2 minutes, then reduce to a simmer for 10–12 minutes.
- Stir through the spinach and prawns; cook for 2–3 minutes, until the prawns turn pink and are cooked through. Season to taste.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice noodles according to packet instructions.
- Divide the laksa between two bowls. Top with the noodles, red onion, coriander and chilli. Serve immediately, with lime wedges for squeezing over.