Pork and Dumpling Noodle Soup

There is nothing that warms me more on a cold rainy day than soup! Today I was feeling slightly under the weather with the sniffles, so I was craving something with a bit of punch to warm me up and clear the nose/throat. This is the perfect meal for that purpose, and of course it is enjoyable when feeling well also! Its also a really easy meal to make, and super healthy.

Ingredients (serves two)

Fillet of Char Sui Pork (I make my own with a lean pork fillet and a jar of char sui paste from the Asian section in the supermarket. Marinate overnight, then roast in 180 degree oven for about half an hour. It tastes just like from the Chinese shop yum yum!)
Thin hokkien noodles

Chicken consomme (I use the Campbells brand)
Pork dumplings x 6 (I use frozen ones from my local dumpling house, Maney's Dumplings in Bundoora. You can also get them from Asian grocery stores. If desperate, mini dim sims would probably do the trick!)
Minced ginger (teaspoon)
Minced garlic (teaspoon)
Chilli flakes (pinch)
Lime juice (splash)
Fish sauce (splash)
Brown Sugar (teaspoon)

Sweet soy sauce (large splash)
Coriander (I use minced from a tube, about a teaspoon)
Spring Onion (3 stems)
One bunch bok choy
One carrot

Method
Prepare your noodle bowls. Soak hokkien noodles in boiling water for three minutes, then arrange in the bottom of two large noodle bowls. Slice pork fillets and divide between two bowls, arranging on top of noodles. Place some chopped bok choy on top of noodles, next to pork.

Prepare soup. In a medium saucepan combine consomme, two cups of water, ginger, garlic, chilli, coriander, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, lime juice. Bring to the boil. Taste and add more sweetness or saltiness as needed- if there's one thing I learnt from watching Masterchef it is to always taste your broth!

Add dumplings to broth. These need to simmer for about ten minutes. After five minutes, add carrot and spring onion to blanch. When dumplings have floated to the surface, use tongs to arrange them on the top of your soup bowl. Then, ladle the yummy broth over the soup bowl.

Enjoy... (hopefully with someone special! I know I did!)