Asian chicken noodle soup

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 450g fresh thin Hokkien noodles
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 3cm piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 small red chillies, deseeded, finely chopped
• 6 cups reduced-salt chicken stock
• 500g chicken breast fillets, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced diagonally
• 1 bunch baby bok choy, chopped
• finely shredded green onions, to serve

Method

1. Place noodles in a heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water. Stand for 3 minutes or until tender. Drain and separate noodles.
2. Heat peanut oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add ginger, garlic and half the chilli. Cook for 30 seconds. Add 2 cups stock. Cover. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add chicken. Cook for 5 minutes or until just cooked through. Transfer chicken to a chopping board. Slice crossways into strips.
3. Add remaining 4 cups stock, soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar to soup. Cover. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to the boil. Add green onion and bok choy. Cook for 1 minute or until leaves just wilt.
4. Divide noodles between bowls. Top with chicken. Ladle boiling broth into bowls. Top with shredded green onions and serve with remaining chilli on the side.

Minestrone

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 55g (1/3 cup) macaroni
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 brown onion, halved, finely chopped
• 1 medium (about 150g) carrot, peeled, finely chopped
• 1 x 425g can chunky crushed tomatoes
• 250ml (1 cup) vegetable stock
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 x 400g can cannellini beans, rinsed, drained
• 25g green beans, topped, diagonally cut into 3cm lengths
• 1 tbs finely grated parmesan
• 4 crusty white bread rolls

Method

1. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water following packet directions until al dente. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and carrot and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until onion softens. Add tomato and stock, and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 6-7 minutes or until carrot is tender. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
3. Add pasta, cannellini and green beans. Cook for 3 minutes or until green beans are bright green and tender crisp. Ladle soup among bowls. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve with rolls.

Thai pumpkin soup

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 1kg butternut pumpkin, peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces
• 2 tablespoons red curry paste
• 270ml can coconut cream
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh coriander leaves

Method

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add pumpkin and curry paste. Cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture starts to stick to bottom of pan. Add coconut cream. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
2. Add 2 cups cold water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until pumpkin has softened. Set aside for 5 minutes.
3. Blend or process soup in batches until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Top with coriander. Serve.