Filling enough for a main meal and thrifty, too!
COMPILED BY: AMANDA JAMES. RECIPES AND PHOTOS: FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
Laksa with prawns
SERVES 6 A ready-made paste takes the faff out of making this spicy Malaysian soup.
YOU WILL NEED
185g jar laksa paste (from larger supermarkets) 1ltr fish stock 2 x 400ml tins coconut milk 6 garlic cloves, sliced 2 stalks lemongrass, split lengthways and bashed, or 2tbsp lemongrass paste Thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated 4 spring onions, sliced 250g flat rice noodles 200g bean sprouts 225g raw king prawns Juice of 1 lime 3 boiled eggs 1 bunch of coriander, leaves picked 1 red chilli, finely sliced
HOW TO DO IT
1 Heat the laksa paste in a large pan for 2 mins until fragrant. Add the fish stock, coconut milk, garlic, lemongrass, grated ginger and half the spring onions. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10-15 mins until the mixture has slightly reduced.
2 Add the noodles, bean sprouts, prawns and lime juice. Bring back to the boil and simmer for a few minutes more or until the noodles are cooked and the prawns are cooked through.
3 Serve with half an egg per bowl, coriander leaves, chilli and the remaining spring onions.
TIP COOK THE EGGS IN SIMMERING WATER FOR 7 MINS FOR A JAMMY YOLK, OR 9 MINS IF YOU PREFER THEM TO BE HARD-BOILED. IT’S VERY MUCH A MATTER OF PREFERENCE.
Easy potato and bacon soup
SERVES 6
Transform humble spuds into something luxurious for a week night.
YOU WILL NEED
90g butter 2 onions, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 4 garlic cloves, crushed Few sprigs of thyme, leaves picked 900g floury potatoes, peeled and cubed (we used Maris Piper) 1ltr chicken stock 125g pancetta or bacon, roughly chopped 125ml single cream ½ bunch of chives, chopped
For the croutons:
Head of garlic, halved horizontally 150g sourdough, torn into small pieces 4tbsp olive oil Zest of 1 lemon
HOW TO DO IT
1 Melt half the butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onions, celery, garlic and thyme, and cook over a low heat for 15 mins.
2 Add the potatoes and stock to the pan and season. Leave the soup to simmer for 25 mins until the potatoes are tender.
3 Meanwhile, fry the pancetta or bacon until crisp, then set aside.
4 For the croutons, heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. Break up the head of garlic and toss together in a bowl with the sourdough pieces and olive oil. Transfer to a baking tray and bake for 20 mins until crunchy. Add the lemon zest, then discard the garlic.
5 Remove the soup from the heat and add the cream and the remaini
