Weekend Foodie: Coconut noodles with chicken for and veg for dinner in a flash

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025 - 07:11

I love to have a pack of dried noodles in the cupboard. Medium egg noodles are so versatile and quick to cook, they make a great base for a fast and furious dinner, providing the carbohydrate staple you need to bulk out your choice of veggies, meat or fish.

This weekend, I’ve used noodles to add bulk to a delicious dish of chicken and vegetables cooked in coconut milk with a touch of Thai red curry paste to spice things up. The noodles are cooked separately, then drained and added to the coconut milk mix for an all-in-one dinner you can eat with a fork. I used leftover cooked chicken, but you can also cook some strips of fresh chicken fillet in advance to speed things up. If you fancy, swap the meat for prawns or fresh fish chunks.

For pud, fresh Irish strawberries and raspberries, as well as imported fresh blueberries, are all available now. With their riot of colour, it’s hard to pass them by when you wander through the fruit section. I’ve dressed the berries with a simple mix of raspberry cordial and fresh mint and served with a classic French chantilly cream. Often said to be the creation of French pastry chef Vatel of Chateau de Chantilly in the 17th century, this is a little bit of history on your dessert plate!

COCONUT NOODLES WITH CHICKEN AND VEGGIES

Ingredients (Serves 4)

2 tbsp olive oil
1 bunch large scallions, trimmed and finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 fat finger fresh root ginger, grated
150g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
100g green beans stalks trimmed and halved
1 sweet red pepper, seeded and finely sliced
200g cooked chicken, chopped
2-3 tsp red Thai curry paste, or to taste
2 x 400g cans coconut milk
8 nests of medium egg noodles
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Juice of half a lime
2 tbsp fresh coriander, roughly chopped
Heat oil in a deep-sided non-stick skillet pan and cook scallions, garlic and ginger  till softened but not browned.
Add remaining veggies and chicken and cook over medium heat, stirring, till veggies are beginning to soften.
Add curry paste and cook for a further minute, stirring continuously.  Pour over coconut milk and bring to bubbling. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until the veggies are tender.
In the meantime, cook noodles in a pan of boiling water for a few minutes, till tender. Drain well.
Add noodles to the coconut mix and stir through.  Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and lime juice.  Sprinkle in the coriander to finish. Serve in warmed bowls.

SUMMER BERRIES WITH CHANTILLY CREAM

Ingredients (Serves 4)

500g fresh mixed fresh summer berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
Icing sugar for dusting
2 tbsp raspberry cordial, or to taste (optional)
2 tbsp mint leaves, finely shredded

For the Chantilly cream:

300mls cream
1 tbsp sifted icing sugar
Few drops vanilla essence
Dash of liqueur (optional)

Easy to make- this simple dessert always goes down a treat.

Method

Mix berries in a bowl.
Add cordial if using.
Dust with icing sugar and scatter over shredded mint leaves.
Toss and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
For the Chantilly cream, whisk the cream with icing sugar, vanilla essence, and liqueur if using, till soft peaks form.
Serve berries in bowls, topped with a dollop of Chantilly cream.

THE WEEKEND GARGLE

As the weekend is upon us, it’s nice to have a carry-out pack of beer chilling in the fridge if you fancy a tipple. This weekend, I’m going for Brasserie French Biere Superieur, a light-hearted and refreshing continental brew which will wash down this mildly spicy noodle dish a treat. This beer comes in a carry-out pack of 10 x 250ml bottles, a very handy size for stashing in the fridge. Drink this beer nice and cold, to bring out its zesty freshness,  which will handle the creamy and spicy coconut sauce in this dish. You could even add a squeeze of fresh lime to give it an extra blast of citrus to cleanse the palate after each mouthful. Find it at Aldi Stores, at €7.99 a pack of 10 bottles.

RECEIPT

Mains