Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
- 3 tablespoons hot chili paste (such as sambal oelek)
- 3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cup water
- 10 ounces ramen noodles (spaghetti, fettuccine or rice noodles will also work)
For Serving
- Fresh chopped basil (basil ribbons recommended)
- Chopped roasted cashews or peanuts (honey roasted preferred)
- Extra red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Heat Oil and Brown Chicken: Add sesame oil to a large pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking into medium-sized chunks until golden underneath, about 5 minutes.
- Add Aromatics and Sugar: Stir in grated ginger, sliced garlic, and coconut sugar with the chicken. Continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat into smaller pieces until almost fully cooked.
- Incorporate Sauces and Simmer: Mix in tomato paste, fresh chopped basil, and hot chili paste, cooking for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then add soy sauce, rice vinegar, and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Cook Sauce to Thicken: Reduce heat to low and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 30 minutes.
- Prepare Noodles: Cook ramen noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Combine Noodles and Sauce: Once sauce is thickened, add the drained noodles to the pot and stir to coat them thoroughly with the meat sauce.
- Serve and Garnish: Divide noodles into bowls and garnish with generous fresh basil ribbons, chopped roasted cashews or peanuts, and extra red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute ramen noodles with spaghetti, fettuccine, or rice noodles based on preference.
- Adjust the amount of hot chili paste and red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
- Honey roasted nuts add a nice sweet crunch but regular roasted nuts work well too.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce and rice noodles.
- Leftovers refrigerate well and can be reheated on stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian