Light Soup Rice Noodle Bowl (Ghanaian × Vietnamese)

Method

1. Peel the tough outer layer off the lemongrass, bruise it with the back of a knife and cut it into 5 cm lengths. In a 20 cm pot, mix the whole chicken thighs with half the onion (chopped), the grated ginger and garlic, the lemongrass and the salt. Cover and let it steam in its own juices on medium-low heat for 10 min; the lemongrass scent soaks into the chicken.

   Add in this stepBoneless, skinless chicken thighs 300 gOnion ½Fresh ginger 15 gGarlic cloves 2Lemongrass stalks 1Salt ½ tsp

   medium-low heat

2. Add the whole tomatoes, the rest of the onion, the pepper (stem removed) and about a third of the water. Cover and boil on medium heat for 10 min, until the tomato skins split.

   Add in this stepMedium tomatoes 3Onion ½Scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero) ½Water 270 ml

   medium heat

3. Lift out only the tomatoes, onion and pepper, blend them smooth with a ladle of broth (hot: fill the blender only halfway) and pour back through a sieve. Add the tomato paste, the remaining water and the fish sauce and simmer on medium-low heat for 14 min, until the chicken is tender and white all the way through (75 °C).

   Add in this stepTomato paste 1½ tbspWater 630 mlFish sauce 1 tbsp

   medium-low heat

4. Meanwhile, bring a separate large pot of water to the boil and cook the noodles on high heat for 4 min (check the packet; drain them while they still have a slight bite). Rinse under cold water and drain so they don't go soft and sticky.

   Add in this stepFlat rice noodles (dried) 160 g

   high heat

5. Take out the chicken and shred it with two forks; discard the lemongrass. Divide the noodles between bowls, top with the bean sprouts and shredded chicken, and ladle the boiling broth over so it lightly wilts the sprouts.

   Add in this stepBean sprouts 80 g

6. Pile on the coriander, Thai basil and sliced spring onions, and serve with lime wedges to squeeze in just before eating. Lime also tames the heat.

   Add in this stepFresh coriander 10 gThai basil 5 gSpring onions 2Lime 1