Tom Kha Gai or Thai Chicken Soup

Thai food in general, is a balance of flavors like, sweet, sour, spicy, hot and pungent. This classic soup served in every Thai restaurant is the perfect example of all those flavors. The broth is thin but not watery. It brings both the coconut flavor as well as sweetness that counteracts the bold flavor of lemongrass, ginger, Thai fish sauce and more. The chicken and mushrooms add substance to the broth. Finished with a sprinkling of both chopped basil and cilantro, this is one bowl of mouth watering delight!

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Servings: servings

Ingredients

14 oz can coconut milk
14 oz can chicken broth
6 slices fresh ginger root each about the size of a quarter
1 stalk lemongrass chopped in 1 inch pieces
1 lb boneless chicken breast sliced very thin
1/2 lb mushrooms cleaned and sliced, discard the stems
1 Tbsp Lime Juice fresh, if you have a lime
1 Tbsp Thai fish sauce
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp Thai green chili paste
1/4 cup fresh Basil thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped

Instructions

I prep all my ingredients before I start putting together the recipe. That way, it is a smooth process with few stops and starts. Freezing the chicken for 15-20 minutes is helpful when trying to thinly slice it.
In a soup kettle, combine the coconut milk, chicken broth, ginger and lemongrass. Bring this to a boil over high heat.
Add in the thinly sliced chicken and stir to separate all the pieces.
Stir in the sliced mushrooms and the lime juice and give it a swirl.
Lastly, stir in the fish sauce, sugar and green chili paste. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 to 8 minutes just until the chicken is white and opaque. Discard the lemongrass and the ginger slices.
I'm serving the soup in these bowls we purchased in Japan. Now, Japan is a fair distance from Thailand, but I thought they were pretty. :-)
Ladle into your serving bowls and sprinkle the basil and cilantro over the top. Use as much or as little as you like. That's it! So quick and easy to prepare but it tastes like you have spent ages making it.
Thanks for stopping by today friends. I appreciate you spending time on my page. I hope this change from summer to fall finds you all safe, healthy and warm.
Until next time, Journey on! Hugs and much love from me, Karen, TJG
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