This flavourful and spicy broccoli noodle soup uses a whole broccoli: the florets, the stalks and the leaves.

This spicy and fragrant broccoli noodle soup is nutritious and delicious, as well as being easy on the wallet!
I love ‘root to tip’ cooking, and using as much of each vegetable as possible. My vegetable garden is not big so I can’t grow a super large amount of produce, so I’m extra careful to avoid food waste and use what we grow to the full extent.
If you’ve got no broccoli, this dish could be made with kale or cauliflower, or even Brussels sprouts.
Makrut Lime
I use the leaves of the makrut lime to add flavour to the soup. This is commonly known as kaffir lime, but there is a racial history attached to that name. I didn’t previously know this but will from now be conscious about not using that term for the lime.
They can be purchased at the supermarket, but better yet, ask if someone you know is growing it! Makrut lime trees are commonly grown for the leaves as opposed to the fruit, and there’s only so many leaves one person needs!
I collected a bunch from a friend of mine and now just keep those in the freezer to use as I need them (along with summer grown chilli that are in the soup too.)
(Read more about my garden and food philosophy here.)

The Ingredients
In this dish the broccoli stalk, leaves and florets are used. They’re combined with a flavourful coconut broth – infused with ginger, garlic, makrut lime and coriander.
The soup is dished out over a bowl full of noodles. You can use rice noodles, egg noodles or even spaghetti pasta.
The Broccoli
The broccoli stalks are the toughest so they need a little bit longer cooking time than the leaves and florets.
First cut the broccoli florets away from the stalk and set them aside. Then remove the tough inner stem from the leaves.
The stalk and the inner leave stems are chopped into small pieces.

The Cooking
In a saucepan fry a chopped onion for about 5 minutes and then add in the stalks. These now cook for 8 or so minutes until tender, then the garlic, ginger, chili, and makrut lime leaf are added along with turmeric.
These are fried off for a few minutes, then coconut milk and vegetable stock are added. This is left to simmer for 5-7 minutes. Taste the broth at the end of the simmering time and season it with salt, a squeeze of lemon and any extra chilli.
While the broth is simmering, bring a pot of water to the boil and cook your noodles of choice, according the packet or recipe instructions.
Meanwhile, finely shred the broccoli leaves and cut up the florets into 2cm pieces. Finely chop some fresh coriander.
These greens are now added into the hot broth and left to wilt for just a few minutes, so they retain their brilliant green colour.

Serve the soup by diving the noodles over 4 bowls, then ladling over the hot broth and vegetables.
Garnish with roasted peanuts, chopped, fresh coriander, chilli and a wedge of lemon or lime.

Spicy Broccoli Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 small brown onion diced
- 1 medium head of broccoli the stalks too
- 1 bunch broccoli leaves or other greens of your choice
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 cm ginger fresh, grated
- 1 whole makrut leaf very finely shredded
- 1/2-1 medium red chilli finely chopped, or use chili flakes, to taste
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
- 500 ml vegetable stock
- 400 ml coconut milk
- 1/4 cup coriander stalk finely chopped
- 200 grams wide rice noodles (or noodles of your choice)
- Salt to taste
To serve
- 1 large handful coriander leaves
- chopped roasted peanuts
- Fresh chili
- Lemon or lime wedges
Instructions
- Cut the broccoli florets away from the stalk and set them aside. Remove the tough inner stem from the leaves.
- Chop the stalk and inner leaf stems into small 1cm pieces.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the coconut oil and add the chopped onion. Fry for about 5 minutes. Add in the broccoli stalks and stems and cook for 8 or so minutes until they are tender.
- Add in the garlic, ginger, chili, makrut leaf, chilli and turmeric and fry for a 2-3 minutes more.
- Bring a pot of water to the boil to cook the noodles.
- Pour in the vegetable stock and the coconut milk and let the soup broth come to a simmer for 5-7 minutes. Taste the broth at the end of the simmering time and season it with salt, the lemon juice and any extra chilli if needed.
- While the broth is simmering, cook the noodles according the packet instructions. Drain them once cooked and divide them over 4 bowls.
- Finely shred the broccoli leaves and cut up the florets into 2cm pieces.
- Add these to the hot broth along with the chopped coriander stalk and let them wilt for a a few minutes.
- Ladle the hot soup and vegetables over the bowls of noodles. Garnish with roasted peanuts, chopped, fresh coriander, chilli and a wedge of lemon or lime.
Nutrition
Have you made this ? Tag me and let me know! @home_grown_happinessnz
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