Parippu Coconut Lentil Ramen (Sri Lankan × Japanese)

Method

1. Bring a small pot of water to the boil, lower in the eggs with a ladle and cook on medium-high heat for 6 min 30 sec, then plunge into iced water and peel.

   Add in this stepEggs 2

   medium-high heat

2. Rinse the lentils until the water runs clear. Put them in a 18 cm pot with the stock, turmeric, sliced garlic, ginger strips, green chilli and half the curry leaves. Bring to the boil on medium-high heat, skim, then turn down to low heat and simmer for 17 min, until the lentils are completely soft.

   Add in this stepRed lentils 80 gChicken stock 700 mlGround turmeric ½ tspGarlic cloves 2Fresh ginger 10 gHot green chilli 1Curry leaves 5

   medium-high heat→low heat

3. Fish out the chilli and curry leaves and blitz with a stick blender until very smooth (keep the blade fully submerged so the hot broth doesn't splash). Add the coconut milk, curry powder and soy sauce and heat on low heat for 3 min. You want it to lightly coat a spoon like a ramen broth; thin with hot water if needed.

   Add in this stepCoconut milk 200 mlCurry powder 1 tspSoy sauce 2 tsp

   low heat

4. Curry-leaf chilli oil: heat the coconut oil in a small pan on medium-low heat, add the mustard seeds and when they pop add the rest of the curry leaves and fry for 1 min 30 sec until crisp. Turn off the heat and stir in the chilli flakes.

   Add in this stepCoconut oil 1½ tbspBlack mustard seeds ½ tspCurry leaves 5Chilli flakes 1 tsp

   medium-low heat

5. Bring 3 L of water to a rolling boil in a large pot on high heat, add the noodles, loosening them, and cook for 2 min (check the packet). Add the halved bok choy for the last minute, then drain everything and shake off the water well.

   Add in this stepFresh ramen noodles 240 gBaby bok choy 2

   high heat

6. Stir the lime juice into the broth and taste. Put the noodles in bowls, pour over the hot broth and top with the bok choy, halved eggs and sliced spring onions, then drizzle with the curry-leaf chilli oil.

   Add in this stepLime ½Spring onions 1