soup
Thai Chicken Soup
Traditional tom kha gai relies on ingredients such as galangal and makrut lime leaves to achieve bright, complex flavor. Our pared-down version gets these from store-bought red curry paste.
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Yield
6, 6-8 as an appetizer, 4 as a main course
Scale Recipe
- vegetable oil1 teaspoon
- stalks lemongrass , tough outer leaves removed, bottom 5 inches halved lengthwise and sliced thin crosswise3
- large shallots , chopped3
- sprigs fresh cilantro leaves , chopped coarse8
- fish sauce3 tablespoons
- low-sodium chicken broth4 cups
- (14-ounce) cans coconut milk , well-shaken2
- sugar1 tablespoon
- pound white mushrooms , cleaned, stems trimmed, cut into 1/4-inch slices1/2
- pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts , halved lengthwise and sliced on bias into 1/8-inch-thick pieces (see illustration below)1
- fresh lime juice from 2 to 3 limes3 tablespoons
- red curry paste (Thai)2 teaspoons
- fresh cilantro leaves1/2 cup
- serrano chiles , sliced thin2
- scallions , sliced thin on bias2
- lime , cut into wedges1
Instructions
1
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat until just shimmering. Add lemongrass, shallots, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon fish sauce; cook, stirring frequently, until just softened, 2 to 5 minutes (vegetables should not brown). Stir in chicken broth and 1 can coconut milk; bring to simmer over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until flavors have blended, 10 minutes. Pour broth through fine-mesh strainer and discard solids in strainer. Rinse saucepan and return broth mixture to pan.
2
Return pan to medium-high heat. Stir remaining can coconut milk and sugar into broth mixture and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium, add mushrooms, and cook until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add chicken and cook, stirring constantly, until no longer pink, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove soup from heat.
3
Combine lime juice, curry paste, and remaining 2 tablespoons fish sauce in small bowl; stir into soup. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, chiles, and scallions. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
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