Laksa Soup Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (2024)

Starting Monday with a flavorful meatless vegetarian coconut curry soup made with Malaysian-style red curry paste called Laksa. Just like any other glorious bowl of Curry Soup, I like to eat Laksa soup loaded with zucchini simmered in creamy spicy coconut-curry broth, topped with silky rice noodles and fresh tofu.

Topped with crunchy peanuts, fresh cucumber and generous splash of lime juice... this soup is bowl-of-heaven for curry lovers!

Oh, you know the best part?! I often ready the Laksa paste over the weekend and then enjoy Laksa soup, any day of the week, in just 10 minutes! An amazingly flavorful subtle-spicy broth comes together with Laksa paste, coconut milk, vegetable stock, and splash of lime juice. That sounds easy, isn't it?

I'm sure you thinking red-curry paste and subtle spicy? I agree that red-tone curry pastes are mostly considered spicy due to use of lot of chilies... but laksa soup is not different and has flavor of chilies yet it is not that hot spicy. Actually the sweetness of coconut milk, and hint of sugar balance the spice and makes Laksa broth savoury.

However, if you like heat, you can use more Laksa paste too. Then just dunk-in some rice noodles and slurp!

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First time, I tried Laksa soup in London, UK. We had a 12 hours layover in London. Of course, we got short visa and decided to explore the city a bit. Vishal had lived in London for sometime. So finding our way around, with all train-network of London, was fairly easy.It was cold winter evening and our first stop was in small eatery in busy part of the city. All they sold was some pastries, soups and sandwiches. And Vishal's favorite fish and chips. I think, every eatery in London has fish and chips in their menu. :)

So, shivering in the cold, I was scanning the menu for a familiar soup. Reading the world "curry" I stopped at Curry Laksa Noddle Soup. There was option to add chicken or veggies and I decided to keep it veggie-only. Even talking about that soup bowl reminds me of rich, creamy, aromatic soup. I don't even remember breathing few times before I finished that bowl. And in minutes of, feeling harsh winter, I felt warm head to toe. Indeed it was an unforgettable experience. In-fact, pictures of the soup today are totally inspired from the bowl of soup I drank that day.

I never thought to try and make it at home until last year when UK Chef and TV personality Nigella Lawson shared the picture of Laksa Soup she had in a London restaurant. That day I spent lot of time researching for the recipe... and spent hell lot of time trying to create that silky smooth soup with amazingly beautiful color.

I'm happy to say, after a number of tries, I found the taste and balance of flavor I was looking for. This recipe is very close to my original experience and I love it. Since early this year, it has become a staple in our home.

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How to make Laksa Paste?

Laksa paste is essentially a red curry paste and is back-bone of Laksa soup. Hence the name - Laksa. You will be surprised that such simple 6 ingredients provide depth of flavor and rich color to laksa soup. If you look at the list in recipe below, all are easy to find pantry-staples. I mean, we all have lime, onion, garlic, dried chilies in our kitchen? Right? If you don't have **Sambal Oelek (chili paste) in your pantry? You can replace it with sriracha or any regular Asian chili-garlic paste.

Now, I must tell you that authentic Laksa Paste or laksa recipe uses Lemongrass instead of lemon or lime. I had full plans to use lemongrass too. But, thing is, it is not that easy to find everywhere. Also, lemongrass paste, which is often used to avoid hard stems of lemongrass in soups/curries, is not that easy to find either. So I decided to switch to my trusty ingredient that I often use when recipe calls for lemongrass and I don't have any.

Let me tell you, if you are every get stuck on a recipe due to not finding lemongrass? Just do this: zest a whole lime and mix with three tablespoon of lime juice. For every 1 tbsp of lemongrass paste use 1 tbsp of this mixture. And you will not notice difference in the flavor.

Laksa Soup Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (3)

To make paste, I process all ingredients in food processor until smooth paste forms. If mixture looks too thick, I add a little more oil or lime juice. Laska paste stays good in refrigerator for 1 week. Recipe below is good to make soup twice.

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Originally, Laksa soup is from Malaysian/Singapore region but this recipe is my taste of Laksa from London. I adapted the recipe from a number of sources in attempt to create these flavors. In no particular order, the list of sources referred are listed in the Recipe Notes. During my research, I also came to know that there is a similar version of Laksa soup in Asaam, India. I think, every country leaves their mark on a recipe as it travels.

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So friends, a bowl of laksa soup is perfect to way to enjoy cold fall-winter or evening. Blend a batch of laksa paste in advance, then make vegetarian laksa soup for dinner in just 10 minutes. Find you favorite comfy couch in house... Sip the soup and slurp the noodles. Enjoy!

Wish you wonderful day ahead. -Savita x

Laksa Soup

5 (6reviews)

Laksa Soup Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (6)

Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Asian () Difficulty: Easy

Yields: 4 cups - Serves: 4

(No. of servings depends on serving size.)

Ingredients

Laksa Paste

Laksa Soup

For Serving/Garnish

Smart Swap: You can use any protein instead of tofu - shrimp or chicken (will not be vegetarian)

Directions

  • 1. Make Laksa Paste:To make paste, in food processor jar, add soaked chilies (discard water in which these were soaked), and all ingredients from the Laksa Paste ingredient list above. Process until smooth pasta forms. Remove in a bowl. Paste stays good for up to one week.
  • 2. Cook Rice Noodles:Bring a pot of water to rolling boil and cook rice noodles according to package directions.
  • 3. Saute Soup Base and Veggies:Heat a skillet. Add 1/2 of laksa paste. Saute for 1 minute to develop flavor and also to cook-off raw flavor of onion. Now, add chopped veggies, such as zucchini, (add mushroom or bell pepper if you like) and cook until crisp-tender (not mushy i.e. veggies are cooked but still have bite).
  • 4. Add Liquid and Simmer Soup: Add vegetable stock and coconut milk with *1 tsp sugar, 1 tbsp lime juice, and generous pinch of salt. Bring to boil and simmer until just started to thicken (1-2 minutes). Remove from heat. Taste broth and adjust salt, sugar and lime juice.
  • 5. Assemble Laksa Soup and Serve:In four serving bowls, add serving of cooked noodles, ladle soup on top dividing equally. Top with sliced tofu, sliced cucumber, cilantro and more chilies. Serve and enjoy!
Savita's Notes:

Sambal Oelek is not vegan whereas rest of the ingredients in this soup are all vegan. So, you can replace sambal paste with a regular vegan chili-garlic paste to make this soup vegan.

* I end up adding up-to a tbsp sugar to balance the flavors. Also, it is best to taste and adjust salt. Salt brings out the flavor of everything - coconut, curry paste. Sauce may take 2-5 minutes to thicken. Keep simmering until soup has desired consistency.

Disclaimer: Recipe adapted from: here and here

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

© Chef De Home. Post content including video and photos are copyright protected.

Laksa Soup  Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (2024)

FAQs

What is laksa soup made of? ›

In addition to those spices, the basic ingredients of Sarawak Laksa are rice vermicelli, chicken, fried tofu, omelette, bean sprouts, black mushrooms, shrimp, boiled eggs and musk. The broth is made from a mixture of sambal belacan, coconut milk, tamarind juice, garlic, galangal and lemongrass.

Is laksa healthy? ›

Health Benefits: Laksa offers a balance of macronutrients: proteins from shrimp and fish cake, carbohydrates from rice noodles, and healthy fats from coconut milk. The dish also includes micronutrients from its various ingredients.

How to thicken laksa soup? ›

You can try to mix in some flour or cornstarch. They both act as a thickening agent. Depending on how big your pot or skillet is, put 1 or 2 tbs of flour or cornstarch in a small bowl and mix it with about 2 tbs of water until it dissolves completely. Then dump it into your soup or sauce.

What is a substitute for laksa paste? ›

What can you substitute for Laksa paste? If you can't find laksa paste at your local grocery store or local asian market, don't worry! You can use Thai red or yellow curry paste instead in this recipe. Thai curry pastes have very similar ingredients and a very similar flavour profile to laksa paste.

What ethnicity is laksa? ›

Origin. Although the exact origin of laksa is unclear, most agree that it was a dish born out of the booming Southeast Asian spice trade in the 16th century, when Chinese traders assimilated into the local communities along the Malay archipelago (what is now modern day Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia).

What is special about laksa? ›

One of the key components that gives laksa its distinctive flavor is a spice paste known as "rempah." Serving as the flavor base for the rich and fragrant broth that defines laksa's taste, the specific composition of the rempah can vary depending on regional variations and personal preferences.

Is laksa inflammatory? ›

Boosts immune system: The blend of spices in Laksa, such as turmeric, ginger, and garlic, contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that support a healthy immune system.

Is laksa high in sugar? ›

Laksa: 1 medium bowl contains ~2 tsp of sugar (9.88g) Hidden sugar comes from the laksa gravy and chilli sauce. Avoid drinking all the gravy if possible.

Are you supposed to drink laksa soup? ›

Traditionally you first eat the noodles. You use chopsticks to pick just the right amount that you can eat and then just slurp it so that it makes the “slrrrr" sound as the noodles make their way inside your mouth. You can then eat the sides along with the soup. You can also drink the soup from the bowl directly.

What goes well with laksa? ›

Laksa food pairings
  • Tamarind and mackerel. ...
  • Coconut and bitter-sweet kalamansi lime. ...
  • Chicken and lemongrass. ...
  • Laksa leaves and shrimp paste. ...
  • Pumpkin and lime leaves. ...
  • Pork and grilled pineapple. ...
  • Scallops and sweet basil. ...
  • Beef and peanuts.

What kind of noodles are in laksa? ›

Noodles – The common noodles found in Laksa is vermicelli noodles (thin white noodles). However, “serious” laksa joints serve laksa with both vermicelli and Hokkien Noodles. Hokkien Noodles are optional – I only use it when making laksa for company. Fried Tofu Puffs – these are fried tofu pieces.

What does laksa taste like? ›

The Nyonya laksa is sometimes dubbed the original laksa as the recipe was passed down by the Peranakan community, many of whom still live in Melaka today. The laksa has a seafood-based broth, but added with coconut milk. This gives the soup a slightly creamy, sweet flavor but with a spicy kick.

What is another name for laksa? ›

Curry laksa (also goes by curry mee, laksa lemak, Nyonya laksa) is a much richer rendition with a coconut milk-based broth that's poured over noodles and garnished with tofu puffs, shrimp, and egg.

What is the difference between curry laksa and laksa? ›

There are three basic types of laksa: curry laksa, asam laksa, and another variant that can be identified as either curry or asam laksa. Curry laksa is a coconut milk curry soup with noodles, while asam laksa is a sour, most often tamarind-based, soup with noodles.

Does laksa have cucumber? ›

Siglap laksa is accompanied by cucumber and beansprouts, rather than the prawns, cockles or fishcakes common in Singapore laksa. Regional variations of laksa include the Penang assam laksa, which has a tangy taste because of its use of tamarind (assam).

Is laksa Chinese or Thai? ›

Peranakan culture is based in Southeast Asia and is a mash-up of Chinese, Malay and Indonesian influences. So it's no surprise that laksa is a fusion of Chinese noodles and Southeast Asian curries, and range from the mild “Chinese” type curries to the full-blown spicy variety. The origin of the name “laksa” is unclear.

What is the difference between curry and laksa curry? ›

Here's how to differentiate them: Curry Mee is served with yellow noodles (Kang Kang Hokkien Noodles) while Laksa is usually served with rice noodles (Kang Kang Laksa Noodles). The ingredients used in the pastes differ too.

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