Golden chicken with rice noodles & crispy shallots

• coconut milk↗400ml ml

  (whisk well to combine the cream and water, if it has separated in the can)

• ground turmeric↗2 tsp tsp
• ginger↗15g piece g

  finely grated

• garlic cloves↗2 large

  finely grated

• limes↗2

  1 zested and juiced, 1 cut into wedges to serve

• red chilli↗½ large

  ½ large frozen and finely grated (see tip below)

• light brown soft sugar↗2 tbsp tbsp
• fish sauce↗2 tsp tsp
• chicken thighs↗6 boneless and skinless

  6 boneless and skinless

• vegetable oil↗

  for frying

• shallots↗4

  finely sliced into rings

• wide rice noodles↗180g g

  (4 nests)

• carrots↗2

  cut into matchsticks

• cucumbers6 baby

  6 baby sliced or ½ a cucumber, halved lengthways and sliced

• mint↗small bunch

  leaves picked

• Thai basil↗small bunch

  leaves picked

• salted peanuts↗100g

  roughly chopped

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   In a large bowl, combine the coconut milk, turmeric, ginger, garlic, lime zest and juice, chilli, sugar, fish sauce and 1 tsp salt. Add the chicken thighs, stirring to coat, then put in the fridge to marinate overnight. Will keep covered and chilled for up to two days.

2. 2

   Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Transfer the chicken to a large roasting tin with high sides. Roast for 30 mins, spooning the sauce over the chicken a few times during cooking, until the chicken is cooked through and a little charred, and the sauce has reduced. At the end, if the chicken needs more colour, grill it for a few minutes, if you like.

3. 3

   While the chicken cooks, heat enough vegetable oil to cover the base of a large, deep frying pan, separate the shallot rings and cook in a single layer for 6-8 mins, or until golden brown (you may have to do this in batches). Drain on kitchen paper and season generously with salt.

4. 4

   Cook the noodles following pack instructions (or bring a pan of water to the boil, add the noodles, take off the heat and leave for 5 mins, then drain and rinse with cold water).

5. 5

   Remove the chicken from the tin and slice into chunks. Toss the drained noodles through the sauce in the roasting tin. Top with the chicken, veg, crispy shallots, herbs and peanuts. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.