• FOOD
  • HOME
  • SELF
  • HEALTH
  • FAMILY

Natural New Age Mum

Happy. Healthy. Holistic.

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • About
    • Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions

Nourishing Chicken Laksa

May 16, 2016 · 6 Comments

Nourishing Chicken Laksa

 

In my early twenties, I managed a bar and restaurant in Perth and was lucky enough to work with some Malaysian chefs. They introduced me to a whole new world of food – laksa, beef rendang, nasi lemak and more. Delicious!

I make my own laksa these days and while it’s never quite as delicious as one cooked by a Malaysian chef brought up on the stuff, it still tastes good!

What is a laksa?

A laksa is a coconut curry based soup with noodles, fish, seafood or chicken. There are many regional variations.

My version is kid-friendly, not too spicy and easy for busy mums to make. I load it up with immune-boosting super foods ( garlic, ginger, turmeric and bone broth) so it’s perfect in winter time to warm  you up and help you avoid the lurgies.

 

Nourishing Chicken Laksa

Vital Stats: gluten free, egg free, dairy free, nut free (depending on your paste)

This is what you need:

1 tablespoon organic coconut oil

1 onion, finely diced

2-3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 small knob turmeric, finely grated

1 small knob ginger, finely grated

500g organic chicken thigh fillets, thinly sliced

200 packet dry rice noodles (or noodles of your choice)

2-3 tablespoons laksa paste

500ml organic coconut cream

1 small carrot, julienned

1 small red capsicum, julienned

3 green shallots, julienned

2 litres chicken bone broth or use bone broth powder and water

100g fresh bean sprouts

4 tablespoons fresh coriander

 

NOTES:

Choose organic produce where you can.

You can use any vegetables you like – asian greens work well too, but add them right at the end to just wilt. Traditional laksa doesn’t have loads of veggies, but I add them to everything to boost our nutrition!

If you need a vegetarian laksa, simply use strips of tofu instead of chicken and vegetable stock instead of broth. If you need a paleo or grain-free laksa, simply use zucchini noodles instead of rice noodles.

Choose a laksa paste that has no nasty additives or vegetable oils or make your own if you have time. Irena at Eat Drink Paleo has an awesome laksa paste recipe – make up a double batch and freeze it until you need it!

You can use coconut milk but I like the slightly thick, decadent texture the coconut cream brings to the soup!

 

This is how you do it:

In a large stock pot, heat the coconut oil and over a medium heat, fry off the onion, garlic, ginger and turmeric for a few minutes until translucent.

Add the laksa paste and chicken strips and cook for one minute, stirring frequently.

Add the vegetables (except bean sprouts and coriander) and broth and simmer gently for about five minutes.

Add the coconut cream and noodles and simmer again for five-ten minutes until the noodles and chicken are cooked through. The timing will depend on how deep your stock pot is, how thick your chicken is and what sort of noodles you use.

Serve into some noodle bowls and top with bean sprouts and chopped coriander. Use chopsticks and an asian spoon if you want to be authentic!

 

NOTES:

This recipe serves four large portions. It reheats the next day on the stove really well, just be gentle not to break up the noodles too much.

You can add some freshly cut chillies if you like it really spicy. It is sometimes hard to know how spicy a curry paste is until you cook with it, so I always add a bit more than I think and then later it is easy to calm it down simply by adding more coconut cream. Or take out the adult servings and then add some more coconut cream for the kids’ servings. Taste and season before you serve. You may need a little salt.

My kids have eaten this since they were little and love it.

 

I would love to hear your feedback, let me know what you think!

 

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: asian soup, bone broth, broth, chicken broth, chicken laksa, family dinner, healthy dinner, laksa, noodle soup, nourishing soup, soup, winter soup

10 Nourishing Winter Soups

June 17, 2014 · 15 Comments

 

Winter is officially here!

I don’t know about your family, but we start to turn away from salads and tuck into hearty, nourishing soups.

Soups are such a cheap, healthy meal.

♥ Add in loads of veges – the kids don’t notice too much, especially if you puree.

♥ Make a good quality bone broth as a base and get all the gut health and immune system benefits.

♥ Add lots of fresh garlic, turmeric and ginger to keep winter lurgies at bay.

I know you all love the recipe collections, so I have ten healthy recipes to share with you today from some of the best healthy food bloggers in Australia!

 

Tomato Noodle Soup from Natural New Age Mum.

 

 

Coconut Lemon Chicken Soup from Quirky Cooking

 

 

Middle Eastern Lentil Soup from Nourishing Hub

Middle Eastern Red Lentil Soup with Sumac and Mint from Nourishing Hub.

 

 

 Alexx Stuart's Coconut Seafood Soup

Coconut Seafood Soup from Alexx Stuart.

 

 

Lamb Shank soup with gremolate from Brenda Janscheck

Slow Cooked Lamb Shank Soup with Gremolata from Brenda Janscheck

 

 

Pumpkin-and-Bone-Broth-Soup from Cut out the Crap

Pumpkin and Bone Broth Soup from Cut out the Crap.

 

vegiesmugglers-witches-stew

Witches Stew with Croutons from Vegie Smugglers.

 

 

Zucchini Noodle Ramen with Miso Eggplant from Kelly Gibney

 

 

Cauliflower and Mushroom Soup from The Wholefood Mama

Cauliflower and Mushroom Soup from The Wholefood Mama.

 

 

Beetroot, Coconut and Ginger soup from Well Nourished.

 

Do you have an amazing soup recipe? Share it with us or link us up!

 

 

 

 

Want more healthy WINTER warmers? Check out my 10 nourishing winter dinners post.

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: bone broth, broth, chicken soup, family food, healthy soup, nourishing, nourishing soup, soup, stock, tomato soup, vegetable soup, winter

Healthy Father’s Day Food !

August 27, 2012 · 4 Comments

I love Father’s Day. It’s a chance to acknowledge and appreciate our dads and spend some quality family time together.

We never spend lots of money, instead it’s all about brekky in bed, home-made cards, hanging out together and a little something special.

Check out my Natural and New Age Father’s Day Gift Guides  if you need some inspiration for gifts!

But what are we going to feed Dad? Keep it healthy and keep it tasty! Here are some ideas from the blog:

Breakfast in bed is a perfect start to the day (along with plenty of cuddles and kids in bed).

Green Pancakes

Green pancakes with blueberries and yoghurt

Family lunch. Home-made pizza and a salad.

2 ingredient pizza base

                     Healthy Pizza                                  

Roasted Vegetable Pizza (with a gluten-free base)

Afternoon tea. Hot drink and a biscuit – healthy of course!

Healthy Homemade Milo

Homemade hot milo

Really Healthy Anzac Biscuits

Healthy Anzac Biccies

Dinner and Dessert. Mexican Chicken and a Healthy Brownie.

Mexican Roasted Chicken with Corn Couscous Salad

Mexican Roasted Chicken with Corn Couscous Salad

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Beetroot and Strawberry Brownies

For more recipes, you might like to check out my new Recipe Index!

What are you cooking Dad for Father’s Day? Give us some more ideas!

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: anzacs, breakfast in bed, Father's day, homemade milo, pizza, raw cheesecake, soup

Very good vegetable soup with wheat free damper

May 14, 2012 · 13 Comments

very good vegetable soup

 

This is our family’s very favourite vegetable soup to have at winter time.

The flavours are so yummy and the addition of a little barley helps fill us up. The secret ingredient is the tamari and the seaweed!

Serve it with this super easy wheat-free damper, and you have an easy, nutritious meal for the whole family. Enjoy.

Very Good Vegetable Soup

Vital Stats: Dairy free, vegetarian, egg free, nut free

 

So this is what you need:

Use organic produce where you can!

1 onion

3 cloves of garlic

1/2 tablespoon oil (macadamia or coconut)

1 large zucchini (200g)

2 large carrots, scrubbed lightly

3-4 sticks of celery (150g)

200g pumpkin, peeled

1 medium potato, peeled (150g)

150g broccoli

3 bay leaves

2 tablespoons organic tamari

1 tablespoon organic tomato paste

1/2 cup barley

2 tablespoons seaweed flakes

2 x 400g cans Spiral organic diced tomatoes (their cans are BPA free)*

1 1/2 litres filtered water

6 tablespoons thermomix vege stock (or organic vege stock cubes)

gomasio* to serve

 

So, this is how you do it:

Chop all of the veges into a smallish dice (or use your thermomix on speed 5 for 3-4 seconds, working in batches). Cook off the onion and garlic with the oil in a large stock pot until just soft.

Chuck in all of the other ingredients. Bring to the boil and then cut it back to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until all the veges and barley are soft. Remove the bay leaves. If your vege pieces are a little large, you can use a potato masher and gently mash the soup to get it to a nicer consistency.

Spoon into bowls. Sprinkle with the gomasio. Eat.

very good vegetables soup

Wheat-Free Damper

Vital Stats: Wheat free, egg free, nut free

So, this is what you need:

1 cup wholemeal organic spelt flour

1/3 cup potato flour

1/3 cup brown rice flour

1/3 cup buckwheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon xanthan gum

1 tablespoon dried garlic powder

1 tablespoon dried onion flakes

1 cup organic greek yoghurt

So, this is how you do it:

Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly and then stir in the yoghurt. Use a little water if you need to. Knead very lightly and then form into a loaf shape. You can spritz with water and sprinkle some seeds on top if you want.

Place on a baking paper lined tray. Bake in a moderate oven, 180 degrees celsius for 20-30 minutes or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Cool slightly. Cut into generous slices. Eat.

I love hearing how you go with the recipes, so pop back and leave me a comment if you make it.

Do you like vegetable soup?

organics on a budget

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: bread, damper, soup, thermomix, tomatoes, vegetable soup, vegetables, vegetarian, wheat free

Tomato Noodle Soup

April 7, 2012 · 12 Comments

Tomato Noodle Soup 

 

This is one of those great recipes for lazy Sunday nights or the times you haven’t been shopping or the times the budget is a bit stretched. It uses foods you probably already have in the pantry and is still very nutritious and tasty.

 

Tomato Noodle Soup

 

Vital Stats: Gluten Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Vegetarian, Vegan

So, this is what you need:

2 tspn macadamia oil

2 cloves crushed organic garlic

2 x 410g cans Spiral organic diced tomatoes

1 tbs organic tomato paste

1 tspn dried Italian herbs

4 cups/1 litre chicken bone broth or vegetable stock

250g thin uncooked organic spaghetti or gluten free spaghetti

1 organic zucchini (optional)

fresh herbs and fresh parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

 

Okay, so this is how you do it:

In a large pot, slurp the oil. Then grate in the organic garlic (or use Spiral organic garlic in a jar) and cook for one minute on a low heat. Get the garlic pong off your hands by rubbing them vigorously on your stainless steel sink.

Next, fling in the diced tomatoes – use Spiral Organic tomatoes as there is no BPA plastic lining the can. Then chuck in the tomato paste, herbs and the stock or broth. Stir and bring to the boil.

Now this bit is optional, but I like to feel virtuous by adding green stuff! Grate in one zucchini. You could also use this opportunity for a bit of a fridge clean out and throw in any leftover veges instead!

Add the spaghetti and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Go and put your feet up, get a kid to stir it occasionally to make sure it doesn’t catch on the bottom. If you want some protein, you could add any cooked leftover meat or a tin of tuna now and heat through.

Serve with some fresh herbs, cracked pepper and fresh grated parmesan cheese on top (not the packet stuff please!). It makes about 4-6 portions, depending on how big you like your serves. It works well next day for lunch too.

 

Now, a word about tinned or canned food and BPA.

It’s not good. Most people are aware of the dangers of BPA or bisphenol A as it has been pretty topical lately. You can read more here. It’s something I have been very careful of and have taken steps to remove it completely from our home.

Take a look inside the can next time you open one. Is the lining plastic? Good chances are it contains BPA and the BPA has leached into your food! I can only find one brand of organic tomatoes that do not contain BPA and that is Spiral Organic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone in my area that stocks it.

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe and the kids like it too. Remember to come back and tell me how it was!

 

Update: I have had some great feedback on this recipe via Facebook. Here is what other mums have to say:

* Melissa says “I made your tomato & noodle soup for dinner tonight. It was yum! M loved it too, & when I could get I (aka Miss I don’t like soup) to have some she said it was nice.”

* Peta says “Tomato Noodle Soup was AMAZING!!! It was the nicest soup I have eaten in AGES!! My Miss 2 LOVED it and Master 4 devoured half my soup while waiting for his noodles to cool! He has also re-named it in our house-hold as “Christmas Soup” because it has the red tomatoes and green zucchini!! Thanks once again :)”

 
 Organics on a Budget

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: BPA lining in tinned tomatoes, garlic, noodle, organic, Organics on a budget, pantry basics, pantry dinner, pasta, soup, tinned tomatoes, tomato, vegetarian

How to Save your Family from Fast Food !

February 1, 2012 · 11 Comments

I don’t reaaaallly have to tell you how bad fast food is, do I? Well, I will anyway….. it’s loaded with fat, sugar, salt and artificial stuff galore.  It’s not the kind of food you want your family to be eating on a regular basis.

I know, I know…… there are days when cooking a meal just seems the last straw after a huge, messy day. But trust me, your body will thank you for it… no fast food hangover the next day. Your wallet will be happy too.

So, I have got some REALLY easy, I mean RIDICULOUSLY easy ideas to save you from the fast food trap. I am not reinventing the wheel here… some of them are nothing new. There are plenty of things lurking in the pantry that can give your families a nourishing meal with minimum effort expended.

PANTRY STAPLES

TOMATO NOODLE SOUP : Try this super quick Tomato Noodle Soup using pantry staples!

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

TUNA COUSCOUS: Grab a can of tuna (in springwater and dolphin friendly) and some couscous (organic wholewheat or corn for the GF people) from the pantry. Raid the fridge for salad ingredients – onion/shallots, tomato, capsicum, cucumber, carrot, etc.  Pour couscous into a stainless steel or glass bowl. Boil kettle and pour just enough water over the couscous to cover, maybe a tiny bit over. Cover with teatowel. Meanwhile, quickly chop up some salad into small dice. Add veges to couscous and then mix in a tin of tuna and a good grind of salt and pepper.  Any fresh herbs you may have can be added too or use a sprinkle of dried. Serve. Eat.

VEGE PASTA : Grab from the pantry a bag of organic wholemeal pasta (or GF pasta) and a jar of organic pasta sauce (Jensens make a nice one).  Cook pasta while you sit down for ten minutes (boil water in the kettle and put into the saucepan for even quicker set up). Dump in the jar of sauce, stir around. Add whatever leftover veges or meat happen to be floating around in the fridge or a can of tuna from the pantry. Heat. Serve with some fresh parmesan cheese on top (not the packet stuff please). Serve. Eat.

BEANS N TOAST : Grab a can of organic baked beans and a couple of slices of good quality bread. Chuck beans in saucepan and heat. Make toast. Add beans to toast and sprinkle with grated cheese. Serve. Eat.

FRIDGE PICNIC:  Assemble artistically on a platter any of the following : leftover cooked meat, hard boiled eggs, cheese, fruit, salad veges, additive free crackers, chutney or pickles, dried fruit, nuts. Serve. Eat with fingers. One plate to wash up. BONUS!

POACHED EGG on TOAST: Get a large frypan, fill half with boiling water from the kettle, drop in some egg rings, drop your organic eggs into the egg rings and put the lid on. Take them out when they are just done to your liking. Spread slices of good quality bread with organic avocado and top with egg. Add a good grind of salt and pepper. If you have any tomato and spinach to hand, heat and eat that too.

SUPERMARKET RUN:

You are on your way home from work and the fast food joint is calling your name….. set your GPS and detour immediately to the nearest supermarket!

*Grab some organic meat and a bag or box of pre-cut salad and a punnet of cherry tomatoes. When you get home, grill the meat, chuck the salad and tomatoes in a bowl. Throw away any dressing that has come with the salad. While the meat is grilling, add some olive oil and vinegar, mustard, garlic and seasonings to a jar and shake. Pour over salad. Eat.

*Grab a packet of noodles (choose additive free ones), a packet of pre-cut stirfry strips of any meat you like and a bag of pre-cut stirfry vegetables. Go home, chuck it all in the wok with some coconut oil, grate in some garlic and ginger. Splash in some soy sauce or tamari. Eat.

LEFTOVERS :

Also known in our house as freezer-free-for-all ! Build up a stash of frozen meals. Whenever you cook, make extra. Curries, spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne, mince patties, whatever. Some frozen, organic Australian vegetables (no sauces etc) are also handy to get some veges on the side. Name and date the containers and you will always have a nutritious meal on hand to save you from fast food!

So, there you have it, a few ideas to get you started. I would love you add your own ideas in the comment section !

I think you should print this list out. Keep it near the takeaway menus! 😉

 

superfoods

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: dinner, organic, pasta, recipe, soup, tomato, vegetarian

Search

I’M A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

PEOPLE I RECOMMEND

Categories

  • FAMILY
  • FOOD
  • HEALTH
  • HOME
  • RECIPES
  • SELF

PRAISE

Archives

Copyright © Natural New Age Mum | Branding + Site by Robyn Birkin