Description
Delightful tom kha soup combines creamy coconut milk with zesty Thai flavors for a comforting meal. Aromatic herbs and tender chicken create a balanced, soul-warming experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (14 oz/400 ml) full-fat coconut milk
- 3 cups (720 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- 8 oz (225 g) mushrooms, sliced
- 8 oz (225 g) cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu (optional)
- 4 tbsps red curry paste (adjust for spice level)
- 2 tbsps fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegan/vegetarian)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised and cut into 3-inch pieces
- 3 kaffir lime leaves (or zest of 1 lime)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger (or galangal if available)
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
- Fresh cilantro, Thai basil, or green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Sliced red chili or chili oil (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat oil in a large pot, sautéing minced garlic and ginger until fragrant and translucent, releasing their essential oils and creating a flavor base.
- Spice Awakening: Integrate red curry paste, vigorously stirring to unlock its complex spice profile and activate its deep, rich characteristics.
- Liquid Harmony: Stream coconut milk into the pot, creating a creamy, luxurious foundation that will embrace all subsequent ingredients with its velvety texture.
- Protein and Fungi Infusion: Gently add sliced mushrooms and chicken, allowing them to simmer and absorb the intricate spice-laden liquid, developing depth and tenderness.
- Herbal Essence: Incorporate lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, which will impart their distinctive citrusy and aromatic notes throughout the soup.
- Flavor Development: Allow the mixture to simmer slowly, enabling ingredients to meld and create a complex, layered taste profile for 15-20 minutes.
- Final Seasoning: Enhance with fish sauce and lime juice, balancing the soup’s flavor with a perfect interplay of salty, tangy, and bright elements.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with fresh cilantro and chili peppers, adding a vibrant visual and spicy accent, then present steaming hot, embodying the essence of Thai culinary tradition.
Notes
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select high-quality, fresh aromatics like ginger and lemongrass to elevate the soup’s authentic flavor profile and ensure maximum taste intensity.
- Control Spice Intensity: Adjust red curry paste quantity based on personal heat tolerance, starting with less and gradually increasing for a customized spice experience.
- Manage Protein Alternatives: Easily swap chicken with tofu, shrimp, or mushrooms for vegetarian and diverse dietary preferences without compromising the soup’s fundamental character.
- Optimize Cooking Technique: Maintain a gentle simmer to prevent coconut milk from separating and to allow ingredients to develop a rich, harmonious flavor without aggressive boiling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg