Asian Peanut Noodles with Chicken

News Flash - I am absolutely in love with Skinnytaste - I won't lie.  It's a web site full of skinny recipes, not to mention skinny tips, that totally makes me drool while I am reading every new recipe that is uploaded.  Gina is amazing.  So if you haven't been to her site, pop on over as I am sure that you will absolutely love it.

This recipe is a Skinnytaste recipe.  One I had actually had my eye on for awhile.  Who am I kidding I want to cook everything from Skinny Taste.

Seriously though what could go wrong to tantalise the taste buds with chicken, noodles and vegetables enveloped in a spicy, crunchy, sweet and salty thick peanut sauce that was absolutely to die for.  Whilst there was a little modification from the recipe trying to make this Gluten Free friendly I don't think I have changed it a great deal.  I did omit one step as I knew my rice noodles wouldn't handle being tossed in the sauce so I just plated them up and layered the rest of the dish on top.  I originally thought I would use Korean Sweet Potato Noodles but I seriously did something wrong with them and they ended up in the bin.  

Overall this dish was enjoyed by all.  Garnished with chopped peanuts and coriander with lime wedges to enable you to add extra flavour it was definitely a winner.

Asian Peanut Chicken with Noodles

(Recipe adapted from Skinny Taste)

Serves: 6

SmartPoints per Serve: 9

For the Peanut Sauce:

1 cup reduced sodium chicken stock

5 tablespoons Mathers peanut butter

1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

For the chicken:

500 grams chicken breast, cut into thin strips

salt
pepper

1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce (more or less to taste)

juice of 1/2 lime

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce

1/2 tablespoon sesame oil

200 grams rice noodles

4 spring onions, chopped

1 -1/4 cups shredded carrots

1- 1/4 cups cup shredded broccoli slaw

1 cup bean bean sprouts

2 tablespoons chopped peanuts

1 lime, sliced into wedges

coriander for garnish (if desired)

Combine 1 cup chicken stock, peanut butter, sriracha, honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, ginger, and 3 cloves crushed garlic in a small saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat stirring occasionally until sauce becomes smooth and well blended, about 5-10 minutes. Set aside.

Boil water for the noodles cook pasta according to package instructions.

Meanwhile season chicken with salt and pepper, sriracha, lime, garlic, ginger and soy sauce.

Heat a large frying pan or wok until hot. Add oil and sauté chicken on high heat until cooked through, about 2-3 minutes; remove from heat and set aside.

Once the noodles are cooked, drain and toss with peanut sauce (add additional chicken stock if needed to loosen the sauce).Add chicken to the noodles and toss to combine.

To the same wok add 2 cloves crushed garlic, spring onions, carrots, broccoli slaw, bean sprouts and salt, sauté until tender crisp, about 1-2 minutes.

Divide noodles and chicken between 6 bowls, top with sauteed vegetables, bean sprouts, chopped peanuts (or you can toss everything together to hide the vegetables so your family members don’t push them aside!) and garnish with coriander, peanuts and lime wedges.

OR (as I did):

Drain noodles and spread over serving platter.

Add cooked chicken to the peanut sauce and toss to combine (add additional chicken stock if needed to loosen the sauce).

To the same wok add 2 cloves crushed garlic, spring onions, carrots, broccoli slaw, bean sprouts and salt, sauté until tender crisp, about 1-2 minutes.

Add chicken mixture to vegetables and stir well to completely combine.

Once warmed through, place chicken mixture on top of noodles.  Garnish with coriander, chopped peanuts and lime wedges.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Singapore Chilli Lobster Tails

Noel knows that when it comes to meat or seafood I can never, ever, walk past a bargain.  Tonight was no different.  Lobster tails reduced by 50% that had to be eaten asap.  Shame really to have an excuse to cook and eat something that we both really enjoy.

The simplest way to cook lobster tails is to fry them in garlic butter, which has an amazing flavour but I just didn't fancy that at all.  In fact, I was really wanting spice and heat.  Instantly the mind wanders... mmmm chilli!

Singapore chilli sauce has hot, sour, sweet and salty flavours that many dishes of Southeast Asia are known for, not to mention the powerful kicks of garlic and ginger.  It's all about the balance of the flavours.  While there are many recipes for Singapore Chilli sauce I found this one to be easy to make with minimal fuss while still having a wonderful array of ingredients.  You could also add lime juice for the extra level of flavour - I didn't with this dish as I wanted the delicate flavours of the lobster to remain a highlight.

Another interesting characteristic about this sauce is that it is quite thick.  I love this!  I love the way that it clings to the food and isn't watery. It envelopes everything in the wok and becomes part of the meal not just a sauce on the side or sitting at the bottom.

With the fact that any left over sauce will keep for about a week in the fridge you can get a second chance to have it again just to make sure you really did enjoy it... LOL!

Needless to say someone aka Noel was very happy with his dinner..........

Singapore Chilli Lobster Tails

(Recipe adapted from Good Chef Bad Chef)

Serves: 2 as a main

Smart Points per Serve: 8

Serves: 4 as an entree

Smart Points per Serve: 4

5 - 6 small lobster tails

1/2 red onion, finely diced

3 garlic cloves, grated

2 small red chillies, thinly sliced, extra for garnish

2 teaspoons grated ginger

1/2 cup tomato ketchup

1 1/2 tablespoon kecap manis

1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

2 teaspoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/2 cup roughly chopped coriander leaves, plus extra for garnish

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon corn flour

2 teaspoons oil

1 spring onion, finely sliced

Rinse and pat dry the lobster tails.  Cut in half length ways.

In a medium bowl or jug mix together the onion, garlic, chilli, ginger, ketchup, kecap manis, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar and coriander.  Mix well.  

Combine water and cornflour in a small bowl or jug.  Stir into sauce, mixing well.

Heat oil in a wok over high heat.

Add the lobster tails, and toss until they start to change colour.  Continue to cook, tossing, for 4 - 5 minutes.

Add sauce mixture and stir toss tails through the sauce.  Cook until sauce starts to bubble and thicken.  (If too thick add a little more water and bring back to the boil).

Remove from heat and serve garnished with spring onion, coriander and chilli slices.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)