Food Recipe by Suchandra Ganguly

By Admin ــ Last Update 13 November 2026

Winter Warmer: Chicken Ball & Prawn Noodle Soup

A cozy, one-pot soup for chilly evenings:

Winter vegetables, soft homemade chicken balls, juicy fresh prawns and slurpy noodles — all in a light, clear, soul-warming broth. No fancy ingredients, just what you get fresh from the market.

Serves: 4

For the Chicken Balls:

- 250g minced chicken

- 1 tsp ginger, grated

- 1 tsp garlic, grated

- 1 green chilli, finely chopped (optional)

- 1 tsp soya sauce

- Salt to taste

- 1 tsp cornflour

- A few coriander leaves, chopped

For the Soup:

- 2 packs noodles (egg noodles / any thin noodles), parboiled and kept aside

- 150g small fresh prawns, cleaned

- 1 cup cauliflower, small florets

- 1 carrot, julienned

- 1/2 cup beans, cut diagonally

- 1/2 cup cabbage, shredded

- 1/2 cup peas

- A handful of palong shaak / spinach, roughly torn

- 1 small onion, sliced

- 4-5 cloves garlic, sliced

- 1 inch ginger, julienned

- 1 green chilli, slit

- 1 tbsp oil (or butter for extra warmth)

- 5 cups chicken stock / water + 1 stock cube

- 1 tbsp soya sauce

- 1 tsp vinegar / lemon juice

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Spring onion and coriander for garnish

Method:

1. Make the balls: Mix all chicken ball ingredients together. Make small marble-sized balls with wet hands. Keep aside.

2. Start the broth: Heat oil in a deep kadai. Add garlic, ginger, onion and green chilli. Sauté for 1 minute till fragrant, do not brown.

3. Add vegetables: Add carrot, beans, cauliflower and peas. Stir for 2 minutes. Pour in the stock. Let it come to a gentle boil.

4. Add balls & prawns: Drop the chicken balls in one by one. Simmer on low for 6-7 minutes. Add prawns and cabbage. Cook for 2-3 minutes only, till prawns turn pink and balls are cooked through.

5. Finish: Add noodles, spinach, soya sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper. Simmer for 1 minute. Taste and adjust.

6. Serve: Ladle into bowls, garnish with spring onion and coriander. Serve hot with a dash of chilli oil if you like.

My little tip for Sahitya Cafe readers:

This soup is best made fresh and eaten immediately. If you want it thicker for kids, add 1 tsp cornflour mixed in water at the end. And if prawns are not available that day, it is equally lovely with only chicken balls.

Warmth, health and winter in one bowl.