Description
This Tom Kha Gai Soup recipe is a comforting and aromatic Thai soup made with coconut milk, chicken, and a flavorful blend of herbs and spices. It’s a perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and spicy flavors that will warm you up from the inside out.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Soup Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 (13.5 oz) can full-fat coconut milk
- 2 stalks lemongrass (trimmed, smashed, and cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 4 slices galangal (or ginger as a substitute)
- 4 kaffir lime leaves (torn)
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1–2 Thai bird chilies or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- Fresh cilantro and lime wedges for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large pot, heat coconut oil over medium heat. Add lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves. Sauté for 2–3 minutes to release their aroma.
- Add Broth and Chicken: Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes or until no longer pink.
- Combine Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the coconut milk, mushrooms, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chilies if using. Simmer gently for another 5–7 minutes.
- Finish and Garnish: Add cherry tomatoes during the last couple of minutes of cooking. Remove lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken with tofu and use vegetable broth.
- Galangal and kaffir lime leaves can usually be found in Asian markets or the international section of grocery stores—if not available, use ginger and a bit of lime zest for a similar effect.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
