Crispy Tofu & Prawn Spicy Noodle Soup

Indulge your cold-weather cravings this season with a hot bowl of homemade soup. This spicy soup is a fusion of Ethiopian and Malaysian flavours. Asia and Africa meet in a big bowl. Fragrant spicy broth, firm rice noodles, delicious crispy tofu and sweet prawn. This is a flavour explosion in a bowl, created especially for you, my dear noodle soup lovers. Enjoy the slurp, the chili, and prepare your chopsticks.

The flavourful base of the soup is Ethiopian Wat sauce – basically red onion, tomato paste, chilies, shallots, ginger, olive oil and Berbere spice mix, all cooked up over many hours in small batches. Just add Mamia’s sauce to the heated saucepan and stir-fry for 1 minute, then add chicken stock, prawns and coconut milk. Noodle soup base is ready. It’s so quick and easy.

The crispy tofu absorbs the flavours of this fragrant, spicy broth. Crispy on the outside, meaty inside absorbs flavours fabulously.Drained tofu absorbs liquids more readily. So, do not forget to drain the tofu first. Do it for at least a half hour.

This is how I drain it: place the block of tofu in a colander on a few layers of paper towel. Place a small plate and something heavy on top of it. Place the colander over bowl or pot.Or press the tofu in a tofu press.

INGREDIENTS 
3-4 Serves 

150g medium-sized rice noodles 
500 ml chicken or vegetable stock 
400ml coconut milk 

1/4 cup mild spicy Mamia’s sauce 
2 cups mung bean sprouts, washed and rinsed 
200 g large banana prawns or king prawns, peeled 
1/2 block of firm tofu, drained 
1/2 cup cornstarch 

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 
cooking oil (I use grape-seed oil) 
salt or fish sauce 

To serve: 

fresh coriander leaves 
fresh chilli, sliced 
pea shoots 
lime wedges

DIRECTIONS 

1. Boil a large pot of water and cook rice noodles follow the directions on the pack. Place cooked noodles in cold water. 

1. Cut drained tofu into chunks about 1cm thick. Mix cornstarch, turmeric powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Coat tofu with a thin layer of cornstarch mix. Remove excess of starch. Set the skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Fry tofu both sides till golden and crispy. 

1. Heat a large saucepan, add 1 teaspoon oil and Mamia’s sauce. Cook slowly on a low heat until fragrant. Add 500ml of boiling chicken stock. Mix well and cook for about 3 minutes. Add prawns and cook for another 3 minutes. Stir in coconut milk and mung bean sprouts. Season with salt or fish sauce. Remove from the heat. 

1. Drain well rice noodles, then transfer to the soup bowls, place the prawns and crispy tofu on top. Pour in the hot soup (reheat it if needed). Serve immediately with fresh coriander, pea sprouts, chilli, and lime wedges. Enjoy!