Lemongrass Prawn Noodles – A Quick & Flavourful Weeknight Meal

I recently adapted a recipe from Meera Sodha’s The Guardian column, originally featuring lemongrass tofu with noodles. To make it a quick and convenient meal, I swapped the tofu for juicy king prawns and used a pre-packaged stir-fry vegetable mix and cooked egg noodles from the supermarket. It’s a fragrant, fresh, and satisfying dish that comes together in no time.

Ingredients

For the Lemongrass Sauce

• 4 tbsp groundnut oil

• 4 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tsp lemongrass paste

• 6 fat garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

• 2 banana shallots, peeled and roughly chopped

• 1 bird’s eye chilli, roughly chopped

• ½ tsp ground white pepper

For the Prawns

• 700g raw king prawns, peeled and deveined

• 2 tbsp groundnut oil

• ½ tsp salt

For the Stir-Fry

• 320g pre-packaged stir-fry vegetables (bean sprouts, cabbage, sliced peppers, carrots)

• 300g cooked egg noodles

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

For Garnish

• 35g fresh basil, leaves picked

• 45g fresh mint, leaves picked

• 40g fresh coriander, leaves picked

• Fried crispy onions

Method

Step 1: Make the Lemongrass Sauce

In a small food processor, blend together the groundnut oil, soy sauce, lemongrass paste, garlic, shallots, chilli, and white pepper until you get a smooth paste. Set aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Prawns

In a bowl, toss the prawns with 2 tbsp groundnut oil and ½ tsp salt, ensuring they are evenly coated.

Step 3: Cook the Prawns

Heat a large frying pan or wok over medium heat and pour in enough oil to cover the base (about 5mm deep). Once the oil is hot, add the prawns in batches, cooking for about 3 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove and set aside.

Step 4: Stir-Fry the Vegetables & Noodles

Discard excess oil from the wok, leaving about 1 tbsp. Add the lemongrass sauce and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the stir-fry vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes.

Add the cooked egg noodles along with 2 tbsp soy sauce. Stir well to combine and cook for another 2 minutes.

Step 5: Bring Everything Together

Return the prawns to the wok and toss everything together until evenly mixed and heated through.

Step 6: Serve

Transfer the noodles to a serving dish, then top with fresh basil, mint, and coriander leaves. Sprinkle crispy fried onions over the top and serve immediately.

This dish is packed with flavor, fresh herbs, and a wonderful balance of heat and aromatics from the lemongrass sauce. Perfect for a quick and delicious meal!