Bright, fragrant, a little crunchy, a little saucy — peak “I cook for myself because I deserve nice things” energy.
This bowl brings Vietnamese street-stall vibes home: fragrant lemongrass chicken, crisp veggies, slurpy noodles, and a light, zingy sauce that wakes up your tastebuds without knocking them over.
Plus, we’re adding a handful of crunchy toppings because texture = joy.
Mild soul-soother? ✅
Spicy kick? ✅
Fast and solo-friendly? ✅✅✅
🌟 Why You’ll Love It
- 15–18 minutes max
- Fresh + uplifting — not heavy
- Great protein + veg balance
- Uses supermarket-friendly shortcuts (lemongrass paste = lifesaver)
- No waste: perfect single-serve portions
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 1)
Noodles & Protein
- 120g thin egg noodles
- 150g chicken thigh or breast, thinly sliced
Veggies
- 1 cup shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
- 1 small carrot, grated or julienned
- 1 spring onion, sliced
- Optional: handful coriander (YES please)
Aromatics & Marinade
- 1 tbsp lemongrass paste (Coles fresh aisle)
- 1 small garlic clove, grated
- 1 tsp fish sauce or soy (for vegetarian alt)
- 1 tsp honey or sugar
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 tsp neutral oil
Dressing
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp lime juice
- ½ tsp honey
- Splash of water
- Mild: just dressing
- Spicy: + ½–1 tsp chilli flakes or fresh chilli
Crunch Options
- Crushed roasted peanuts
- Crispy shallots (Asian aisle)
👩🍳 Method
- Cook noodles
Boil, drain, set aside. - Marinate chicken (1–2 mins is enough)
Mix lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce/soy, honey, lime, oil.
Coat chicken — even a quick soak boosts flavour. - Cook chicken
Pan on medium-high.
Cook chicken 3–5 mins until golden and fragrant. - Make dressing
Stir soy, lime, honey, water.
Add chilli if spicy vibes. - Veg base
Grab your serving bowl.
Add cabbage/coleslaw mix + carrot. - Add noodles + chicken
Place warm noodles + chicken over veggies — this slightly softens them but keeps crunch. - Dress + finish
Pour over dressing.
Add spring onion, coriander, peanuts, crispy shallots. - Toss lightly & slurp happily.
🔥 Heat & Mood Control
| Mood | Action |
|---|---|
| Fresh + bright | Skip chilli, double herbs |
| Warm kick | Pinch chilli flakes |
| Street-food heat | Fresh chilli + chilli oil + cracked pepper |
💡 Plan4One Solo Cooking Tips
- Lemongrass paste = flavour bomb without waste
- Buy a small coleslaw mix bag — perfect for 2–3 solo meals
- Leftover chicken? Freeze in small zip-bags
- Add a fried egg if you feel cheeky (always yes)
🧊 Storage & Reheat
Best fresh to keep veggies crisp.
If storing:
- Keep dressing separate
- Eat within 1 day
- Reheat chicken only
🛍️ Coles Shopping List
Produce
- Carrot
- Spring onion
- Optional: coriander, lime
Meat
- Chicken thigh or breast (small pack)
Fridge Section
- Lemongrass paste
Pantry
- Thin egg noodles
- Soy sauce
- Fish sauce (or extra soy)
- Honey
- Chilli flakes/oil (optional)
- Peanuts or crispy shallots
Shortcut Veg
- Coles coleslaw mix (optional swap for cabbage + carrot)
🍴 Nutrition Snapshot (Approx.)
| Calories | ~500 kcal |
| Protein | ~38g |
| Veg servings | 2+ |
| Self-esteem | Elevated by 30% post-noodle-slurp |
👋 Final Bite
Fresh, fragrant, and crunchy — this bowl proves solo eating deserves excitement, not compromise.
Got sparks flying from that lemongrass?
Tell me when you make it — proud solo cook moments are meant to be shared.
