Chicken Udon Noodle Soup with Lemongrass

Name: Chicken Udon Noodle Soup with Lemongrass
Ingredients: 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb); 3/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 2 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (divided); 3 medium shallots (thinly sliced into rings); 2 stalks of lemon grass (trimmed, outer layers discarded, halved lengthwise, and smashed with the side of a chef’s knife); 1 tbsp fresh minced ginger; 2 tsp light brown sugar (packed (optional)); 5 1/2 cup chicken broth; 3 1/2 oz shitake mushrooms (stemmed and quartered (1-1/2 cups)); 9 oz fresh udon noodles; 1 serrano chile (sliced into thin rings); 8 leaves of fresh basil (torn); 2 medium lime (juice only); 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1/4 cup fresh basil (julienned); 2 medium green onions (thinly sliced); 1 medium carrot (cut into matchsticks); 1/2 cup fresh cilantro