What makes this a diet-friendly spicy prawn noodle bowl?

This noodle bowl is designed to be filling but lighter in calories by using zero-calorie shirataki or konjac noodles, plenty of vegetables, and only a small amount of rich coconut cream for flavour. You still get a satisfying, spicy, coconut-based broth without turning it into a heavy, high-calorie meal.

How many calories are there in a serving?

The calorie count will vary slightly depending on the exact vegetables and quantities you use, but based on the recipe as written it comes in at around 229 calories per serving for a two-portion bowl.

What kind of noodles do you use, and can I substitute them?

The recipe uses zero-calorie shirataki or konjac noodles to keep the overall calories down. You can also use fewer regular wheat or rice noodles with extra vegetables, or swap in vegetable noodles such as spiralised courgette, sweet potato, or celeriac. Each option will change the texture and calorie count slightly.

Can I swap the vegetables in this noodle bowl?

Yes. The vegetables in this recipe are very flexible. You can swap the red pepper, spinach, celery, baby corn, and mangetout or beans for what you have on hand, such as cabbage, pak choi, mushrooms, or carrots. Aim for a mix of colours and textures so the bowl stays vibrant and satisfying.

Is this dish very spicy, and how can I adjust the heat?

The spice level depends largely on how you prepare the fresh chilli. For a hotter bowl, finely chop the chilli and include the seeds. For a milder version, slice the chilli lengthways and remove the seeds, use fewer pieces, or leave it out entirely. You can always add extra chilli at the table if you like more heat.

Can I use cooked or frozen prawns, or another protein?

Raw peeled prawns work best because they cook quickly in the pan and soak up the flavours of the garlic, ginger, chilli, and coconut. If using cooked prawns, add them near the end just to warm through so they do not become rubbery. You can also use other quick-cooking proteins such as firm white fish pieces, scallops, or tofu, adjusting cooking times as needed.

Is this recipe suitable for a 5:2 diet or other low-calorie plans?

With an approximate 229 calories per serving and plenty of vegetables, this bowl can fit into many low-calorie meal plans and can work for some people on a 5:2 fast day, depending on how they structure their calories. It is also suitable for pescatarians and for flexitarian eating patterns that focus on more plant-based meals with some seafood.

Is this spicy prawn noodle bowl gluten-free or dairy-free?

The recipe is naturally free from dairy because it uses coconut cream instead of milk or cheese. It can be gluten-free as long as you choose gluten-free noodles and check that ingredients such as mirin and any stock or seasoning you add are certified gluten-free. Always read labels carefully if you have a gluten sensitivity or coeliac disease.

What can I use instead of mirin?

If you do not have mirin, you can use a little sake, rice wine, or a small splash of regular white wine. If you prefer not to use alcohol, you can use water and rely on the garlic, ginger, chilli, coconut, and lime to provide plenty of flavour.

How should I store leftovers, and can I reheat this dish?

If you have leftovers, cool them quickly and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one day. Reheat gently in a pan until piping hot, adding a splash of water if the noodles have absorbed too much liquid. Because prawns can overcook easily, try not to reheat them more than once.

I am in the US – what are prawns and coriander?

In this recipe, prawns are the same as shrimp in US English, and coriander refers to the fresh herb known as cilantro. You can use shrimp and fresh cilantro exactly as described in the recipe.

Spicy Prawn and Coconut Asian Noodle Bowl

0 Shares

Last Updated on January 4, 2026

Spicy Prawn and Coconut Noodle recipe with Coriander and Ginger:

Dieting in the summer is so much easier – somehow, as the nights close in and the temperature drops, our minds turn to sticky toffee pudding, sausages and mash and delicious calorific food that really doesn’t work on a fast day. But, despair not. There are some excellent ways to fill up on a 5:2 diet fast day or any other low-calorie diet that won’t leave you feeling deprived. My personal standby is always homemade soup. I buy chicken carcasses from the local farmers’ market and boil them up to add richness to low-calorie soups like this classic diet celery soup. And, I do crave spicy food at this time of year. This spicy prawn and coconut bowl with coriander and ginger is the sort of dish I make for myself when I am not on a fast day. You have a choice with noodle bowls if you are trying to keep the calories down.

1. Add fewer noodles and more vegetables.

2. Use ultra-low-calorie shiritake noodles – some people hate them, but I actually really enjoy them!

3. Use vegetable noodles – zucchini or courgette, sweet potato or celeriac, for instance.

I tend to favour options 1 and 2, simply because the third version is just a little too close to a normal stir-fry for me.

Low Calorie Spicy Prawn Noodle Coconut Chilli Bowl

I’ve cut the calories in this spicy prawn and coconut noodle dish by using zero-noodle Shirataki or Konjac noodles, which you can find in some supermarkets. And, I’ve used a small amount of coconut cream, which is rather high in calories but makes this dish quite special. Oh, and for my friends across the pond, coriander is cilantro and prawns are shrimps to you!

Print Recipe

Diet Prawn Coconut Chilli and Coriander Bowl

An easy low-calorie recipe for prawn chilli noodles with coriander, coconut and vegetables.

Servings:

Ingredients

16 Peeled, raw prawns
1 tsp coconut oil
30 ml coconut cream
1 red pepper
4 spring onions
150 g baby spinach
4 miniature corn cobs
1 stick celery
2 cloves garlic
1 red chilli deseeded
1 piece root ginger about 2cm long peeled
30 g Mangetout peas or green beans
1/2 Lime
1 tbsp Mirin
300 g Zero Noodles Or Shiritake noodles. I use one pack for 2 people. You can use less or more depending on how hungry you are!
1 handful Fresh coriander

Instructions

Finely chop the ginger and garlic. If you want a ‘hot’ chilli bowl, dice the chilli too. Alternatively, just slice it lengthwise along the middle and remove the seeds
Slice the mini corn cobs and celery and cut the mangetout or beans into neat 2cm pieces. Deseed the red pepper and slice into ‘fingers’. Trim and slice the spring onions into 1cm pieces
Remove the black ‘vein’ from back of the prawns using the tip of a sharp knife if it hasn’t been done already.
Melt the coconut oil over a moderate heat in a large deep frying pan or wok
Add the garlic, ginger and chilli and cook gently for a minute or two
Turn the heat up a little, then add the spring onions, red peppers, corn and celery and continue to cook
Drain the zero noodles or shirataki noodles. Rinse them well under boiling water
Add the prawns and cook on one side for 2 minutes till they start to go pink. Turn them all, then add the mangetout/beans and the spinach. Stir and continue to cook for a minute so that the spinach is wilting
Add the coconut cream, mirin and noodles and the chopped coriander and continue to cook, stirring well, for 2 minutes or so till everything is piping hot. If the mixture looks too dry add a little water – you should end up with a ‘sauce’ to coat everything by the end.
Squeeze over the lime, season with salt and pepper and serve

Most of the vegetables in this spicy prawn and coconut noodle dish can be swapped out depending on what you have on hand. I like the range of colours from the peppers and spinach, and the texture of the celery. But, this is my main meal equivalent of ‘stone soup’. It all depends on what I have in the fridge! You can also substitute the mirin for a little sake or rice wine. Or for a small quantity of normal white wine. Or even for water if you are feeling frugal.

Prawn and Zero Noodle Coconut Chilli Bowl

The calorie count for spicy prawn and coconut noodles is approximate – it really will depend on what vegetables you use. But, at 229 calories for a serving based on my recipe, you can afford to play around a bit

It’s a dish I particularly enjoy – and hope you do too. The sort of diet food that doesn’t make you feel as if you are suffering at all!

Diet Prawn Coriander Coconut Chilli Bowl

I do hope you like the look of this recipe. If you want to try it for yourself, why not pin this post for later?

Spicy Prawn and Coconut Noodle recipe with Coriander and Ginger:

Diet Prawn Coconut Chilli and Coriander Bowl

Ingredients

Instructions

About Fiona Maclean

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply