Chicken Soup
Thai-inspired chicken soup with coconut milk, lemongrass, lime — Tom Kha Gai. Different from clear chicken soup. The aromatic Thai classic.
Prep Time
24 min
Cook Time
30 min
Servings
4
Calories
522 cal
🛠 Interactive Recipe Tools — Use them right here on this page
Smart Servings Scaler
- Chicken500 g
- Carrot1 medium
- Celery1
- Onion1 medium
- Garlic3 cloves
- Black Pepper½ tsp
- Bay Leaves1
- Olive Oil2 tbsp
- Salt1 tsp
All quantities scaled automatically from 4 servings.
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings · Use the Servings Scaler above to adjust
- Chicken500 g
- Carrot1 medium
- Celery1
- Onion1 medium
- Garlic3 cloves
- Black Pepper0.5 tsp
- Bay Leaves1
- Olive Oil2 tbsp
- Salt1 tsp
Instructions
- 1
Make broth: simmer 4 cups chicken broth with 2 stalks of lemongrass (bruised), 2-inch piece galangal or ginger (sliced), 4 kaffir lime leaves, 3 garlic cloves, 1 sliced shallot for 15 min.
- 2
Strain (or leave whole if you don't mind aromatic pieces).
- 3
Add 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, juice of 2 limes, 2 Thai chilies (sliced). Simmer 5 min.
- 4
Add 1 lb sliced chicken thighs and 8 oz sliced mushrooms. Cook 6-8 minutes until chicken is done.
- 5
Taste — adjust fish sauce, lime, sugar. Should be sweet-sour-salty-spicy.
- 6
Finish with chopped cilantro, scallions, more lime. Serve over jasmine rice or as soup.
Watch how to make Chicken Soup
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💡 Expert Tips
- 1.Lemongrass + galangal + lime leaves. The Thai trinity.
- 2.Coconut milk for richness.
- 3.Balance flavors. Sweet + sour + salty + spicy.
- 4.Fresh herbs at end.
🔬 Why It Works
Thai tom kha gai succeeds with the trinity of Thai aromatics (lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves) infused into the coconut broth. The balance of fish sauce, lime, sugar, and chili creates the signature Thai sweet-sour-salty-spicy profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
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