Uyen Luu

You can be really creative and use up store cupboard and fridge ingredients. Admittedly, I’ve always got a cupboard full of pasta and noodles. There’s always some carrot and peas taking residence in the fridge/ freezer. Sometimes, I would have picked up some bacon at the Farmers Market and its laying dormant on the top shelf or there’s a poached chicken (for chicken stock) or minced pork or sausages  and so on. Then I’ve got some herbs growing on the window sill/ garden so in half an hour or so, something delicious, vibrant and comforting as a pasta soup can be pulled together for a quick lunch or dinner. Even when you’re feeling under the weather or wish to make this for someone who is, they’d be delighted.

Any kind of pasta can be used, just don’t over cook it. Or you can use packets of udon, ramen, mung bean noodles. Anything you fancy.

Any kind of herbs can be used too or spring onions. You can jazz it up as much or as little as you fancy – as long as you have a good quality chicken stock or use chicken stock cubes that you favour. Everything can be poached within the one pot.

With this recipe, I have used a griddle pan to charr the onion for extra depth and flavour and a saucepan to fry off the shallots but you don’t have to. You can purchase pre made fried shallots or not use them at all. Fried shallots adds wonders to your stock so you can make a big batch and save in the fridge for garnishing.

You can read more about my ideas on poachinghere