Burmese Khow Suey

Khow suey, is a noodle soup made with coconut milk, served with a variety of contrasting condiments. A squeeze of lemon also adds tanginess to khow suey. The dish is similar to the Burmese noodle dish ohn no khauk swe, literally ‘coconut milk noodles’.

Ingredients for Khow Suey 

1 packet noodles boiled

1 cup noodles fried

For the paste

1 onion cubed 

1 tablespoon ginger chopped 

1 tablespoon garlic chopped 

2 red chillis chopped 

2 teaspoon cumin 

1 teaspoon pepper corns 

½ teaspoon turmeric 

1 teaspoon coriander seed (optional)

For the coconut curry

2 cups coconut milk 

2 cups water 

3 tablespoon chick pea flour / besan 

½ cup carrot chopped 

½ cup beans chopped 

1 cup broccoli chopped 

1 cup zucchini chopped 

2 tablespoon oil 

Salt to taste

For Garnishing

1 tablespoon garlic sliced and fried 

2 tablespoon onions sliced and fried 

1 small onion chopped fine 

2 tablespoon spring onions chopped 

½ cup red capsicum sliced thinly 

2 tablespoon coriander chopped 

¼ cup roasted peanuts 

1 teaspoon red chilli sliced 

1 lemon cut into wedges

Directions For Khow Suey 

The coconut curry 

1. Grind together all the ingredients for the paste into a fine paste. Heat oil in a non-stick pan; add ground paste and saute well

2. Add gram flour and saute for 4 to 5 mins

3. Add carrot and beans and mix

4. Pour in water and cook till the carrots are half cooked

5. Add broccoli and cook for 2 mins

6. Add coconut milk

7. Add zucchini, salt and cook for 3 to 4 min

8. In individual bowl add noodles 

9. Pour gravy 

Grind together all the ingredients for the paste into a fine paste. 

  • Heat oil in a non-stick pan; add ground paste and saute well. 
  • Add gram flour and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. 
  • Add carrot and beans and mix. 
  • Pour in water and cook till the carrots are half cooked. 
  • Add broccoli and cook for 2 minutes. 
  • Add coconut milk, zucchini, salt and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. 
  • To serve (2 different methods)

Method 1 

  • In individual bowl add the noodles, pour gravy, sprinkle some chopped onions, fried onions, garlic, coriander and peanuts. 
  • Top with some fried noodles and a lemon wedge.

Method 2 

  • Lay down the garnishes – fried onions, fried garlic, roasted peanuts, chopped cilantro, chopped onions, lemon wedges and fried noddle’s in the centre of the table. 
  • Divide the boiled noddle’s in individual bowls and pour the gravy and serve. 
  • Let everybody garnish according to their taste.