Recipe: Stir-fried hokkien noodles with chilli prawns and lemongrass

Stir-fried hokkien noodles with chilli prawns and lemongrass. Photo / Babiche Martens

Serves 4

400g fresh hokkien noodles
400g prawns
1 Tbs vegetable oil, plus 1 Tbs extra
1/2 Tbs peanut oil
200g bean sprouts
3 shallots, finely sliced
3 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 Tbs lemongrass, minced
1 stick of celery, finely sliced
2 Tbs garlic chives, chopped
2 red chillies, minced
Lemons to serve

1 Put the noodles into a large bowl. Pour boiling water over then leave for 3 minutes. Drain in a colander.

2 Shell the prawns but reserve the heads and shells to make a stock. Devein the prawns.

3 Put the vegetable oil into a hot wok then add the prawn heads and shells, toss until they turn red. Add 1 cup of water, bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain the stock and return to the wok.

4 Drop the shelled prawns into the simmering stock and leave until they just begin to change colour. Strain again and reserve the stock.

5 Heat the second measure of vegetable oil with the peanut oil in the wok. Fry the beansprouts, shallots, garlic, lemongrass and celery until soft and golden.

6 Add the remaining stock, noodles and prawns. Stir fry for two minutes then serve with plenty of garlic chives and chillies - offering lemon wedges on the side.