Rocking out to Rikki Lee’s latest single, “Addiction”, and partaking in Malaysian Laksa noodle soup is the perfect pairing for this next feature. Check out the recipe below!

Rikki Lee, an accomplished guitarist and singer, hails from Malaysia and relocated to the UK in 2016. Her journey into music was influenced by her upbringing in a musically inclined family, where her parents were avid music enthusiasts. She embarked on her musical path at the age of 12, starting with the guitar, and this first step led to her further exploration and creation of music. Rikki’s music is shaped by a diverse range of influences, including Sam Ryder, Ally Goulden, and Joe Satriani. Her sound is heavily rooted in pop, infused with elements of electronic dance, and her signature abundance of impressive guitar solos. Currently, Rikki is listening to Jon Batiste and John Mayer, but her musical tastes are quite eclectic and change often. No matter the changes in her music listening rotation, she consistently seeks out quality pop songs to listen to.

With her latest single, “Addiction” out now, Rikki Lee is excited about releasing three more singles throughout 2024. She’s also working towards the launch of her full album in 2025. Fans can expect a series of live performances in the coming year. Rikki is committed to her path as a touring artist with goals to produce more albums and continue to create new music for her fans.

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Rikki loves savory dishes above all else, with a particular favor for a robust bowl of lasagna. Being Malaysian, she also has a deep-seated love for Laksa, a traditional noodle soup from her homeland. In homage to her UK connections, a Sunday roast featuring roasted potatoes, carrots, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy is key. When it comes to desserts, her favorites are tiramisu and black forest cake. To embrace more culinary challenges for myself and cook outside of my comfort zone, Malaysian Laksa noodle soup was the dish of choice for this recipe. Laksa is the perfect dish to complement Rikki Lee’s pop-rock sound with its vibrant and aromatic flavors.

Laksa noodle soup is a staple in Southeast Asia, especially popular in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It’s made with a choice of noodles – wheat noodles, rice vermicelli, egg noodles, or Hokkien noodles-immersed in a rich broth. This broth is a flavorful blend of spices, fresh aromatics, shrimp paste, and coconut milk. It’s typically garnished with a variety of toppings such as fried tofu puffs, fish cakes, fish balls, blanched cockles, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Fresh cilantro, lime, red peppers, and minced laksa leaves add the finishing touches to this sumptuous dish. Check out the recipe below!

Malaysian Laksa Noodle Soup

Ingredients

1 red Thai chili, finely sliced for cooking
1 red Thai chili, finely sliced for garnish
2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon coconut oil
4 cups chicken broth
1 3/4 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 cup vermicelli thin rice noodles cooked according to package directions and rinsed with cold water
Juice of 1 lime
14 oz large shrimp, shelled and deveined, leaving tails on
fried tofu puffs, sliced for garnish
¼ cup chopped cilantro plus more for garnish
1 lime cut into wedges for garnish
1/2 cup fresh bean sprouts

Directions

In a medium-sized skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add the chili, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 1 minute.
Then add the curry paste and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add the chicken broth and coconut milk and bring to a boil.
Add the fish sauce and then toss in the previously-cooked rice noodles. Cook for 3 minutes and add the lime juice and shrimp. Then cook for an additional 2 minutes until the shrimp are cooked.
Serve, and garnish with cilantro, red chili pepper slices, bean sprouts, fried tofu puff slices, a couple of shrimp, and lime wedge. Enjoy!