1. In a large stockpot add the oil and all the spices and toast for 3 minutes over a medium heat. Add the garlic,ginger and red onion and cook for 3 minutes.
2. Add the chicken,salt,lemongrass,lime leaves,galangal and water. Bring to a simmer over a high heat,reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for 1 hour.
3. Lift the chicken out and strain the broth.
4. Put the strained broth back on the heat,season with fish sauce and palm sugar and bring back to a simmer.
5. When the chicken is cool enough to handle,pull all the flesh from the legs and carcass andset aside half for your fried rice.
6. Drop the other half of the meat into the soup along with the spring onions,shiitake mushrooms and noodles and heat for 3 minutes. Ladle into bowls and pass around the chilli,bean sprouts and the herbs and lemon to squeeze over.
Tip: With a little planning you can create three delicious meals from one chicken,using the meat and extracting flavour from the bones. Buy the best organic chicken you can find,and use it in this soup,mychicken and pancetta salad andfried rice with ginger and egg.