Tom kha gai or Thai Coconut Soup

19 Apr

Posted by emjoven as Chicken Recipes, Cooking Videos, Soup Recipes, Thai Recipes

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Tom kha gai or Thai Coconut Soup is a hot sweet soup made with coconut milk, lemon grass and chicken. The name literally translates to boiled galangal chicken. The fried chillies add a smoky flavor as well as texture, color and heat, but not so much that it overwhelms the soup.

There are other versions made with either seafood (tom kha talay) or mushroom (tom kha het) too. All follow a similar recipe.

Estimated cooking time: 45 minutes

Tom kha gai or Thai Coconut Soup Ingredients:

17 fl oz coconut milk
17 fl oz chicken stock
5 cm of galangal , peeled and chopped, (or ginger)
4 lemongrass stalks , thinly sliced
2 kafir lime leaves
1 large chicken breast , cubed

2 green chillies , sliced
4 Tbsp fish sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
a few sprigs of coriander
1 lime , halved

Kitchen utensils needed:

1 saucepan
1 wooden spoon
1 ladle

Tom kha gai or Thai Coconut Soup Cooking Instructions:

How to Cook Tom Kha Gai Video:

Step 2: Begin the stock
Put the coconut milk, stock, galangal or ginger, lemongrass and the lime leaves into the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Finish the soup
Now add the chicken, the chillies, the fish sauce and the sugar and bring to a boil. Cook it for another 7-10 minutes.
Step 4: Garnish and serve
Finally, ladle the soup into a bowl, add a squeeze of lime and garnish with coriander. Serve. Remember that the lemongrass and the lime leaves are not to be eaten. They are only for flavour!