Tom Kha Paste Recipes

THAI COCONUT SOUP WITH SHRIMP (TOM KHA GOONG)

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven add broth, ginger, lemongrass, curry paste and fish sauce and simmer for about 10 mins.
• Add coconut milk, mushrooms and red bell peppers. Continue to cook stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are soft (about 5 min.). Add shrimp, continue to cook until shrimp are fully cooked (about 5 min.). Remove from heat, remove lemongrass stalks and stir in lime juice. Stir in cilantro, reserving a small amount for garnish.
• Can be served as a soup or over jasmine rice for a heartier meal option.
• * you should be able to find fish sauce at well stocked grocery stores (in the Asian section). If it's not available you can sub 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce + 1 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce.

TOM KHA GAI

Steps:

• Warm chicken broth and coconut milk together in a stockpot over medium heat; add chile sauce, lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and kaffir lime leaves. Bring broth mixture to a low simmer until flavors have blended, about 15 minutes.
• Remove stockpot from heat and strain out ginger and lime leaves. Return broth mixture to the stockpot and bring to a simmer. Cook chicken in the simmering broth until no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, onion, zucchini, lemongrass, and basil and simmer until onion softens, about 3 minutes.

BEST EVER TOM KHA GAI - THAI COCONUT SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium pot, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeno or chile, galangal or ginger, lemongrass, and red curry paste and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until onions are softened. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Strain out the aromatics (the garlic, onions, lemongrass, and ginger) and discard. Add in coconut cream or milk, chicken breast (or tofu or shrimp), and mushrooms. Simmer until chicken breast pieces are just cooked through, then add fish sauce, coconut aminos (or coconut sugar), and lime juice, plus more of each to taste.
• Cook 2 minutes, then ladle into serving bowls and top with sliced green onions and fresh cilantro.

TOM KHA GAI RECIPE (ต้มข่าไก่) - AUTHENTIC THAI STYLE

Steps:

• First take a thumb sized chunk of galangal, cut off the stems, and cut the root part into thin slices. It can be a little tough, so you might have to hit the top of your knife with your palm.
• Next grab your lemongrass, slice off the bottoms, pull off the outer skin layer, and then slice it diagonally into about 1 inch strips. This is just going to help release its amazing fragrance.
• Turn on your stove to medium heat, and add about 3 cups (or ½) of the coconut milk to a medium sized saucepan. Put the pot on the heat and immediately toss in the sliced galangal and lemongrass.
• As your coconut milk begins to heat, move back over to your cutting board and slice up the chicken. I used 2 chicken breasts for this recipe. Slice the chicken into medium sized chunks - they can be kind of big in size.
• Just before the coconut milk comes to a boil, add the chicken, and then add the other remaining 3 cups of coconut milk. Now, turn down the heat to a medium low, as you don't want the coconut milk to heat too fast or burn.
• Prepare your Thai chilies by peeling off the stems and then just slice them diagonally. Go ahead and add them directly to the soup.
• Give the soup a quick stir, and then add about 200 grams of oyster mushrooms (it was about 2 handfuls for me).
• Your coconut milk should not boil, but just maintain a nice low heat. Because coconut milk is so delicate, when you stir, be sure to move your spoon in 1 direction only, otherwise you run the risk of the coconut milk getting too shaken and it will start to curdle. Be gentle with the coconut milk.
• Move back over to your cutting board and peel and slice 2 small white onions into thick wedges (if your onion is really big, just use 1). Immediately toss the onions into the soup.
• Next, cut your tomatoes in the same way as your onions, into thick wedges. Wait until your tom kha gai (ต้มข่าไก่) is just about to boil, and then add the tomatoes.
• Take the kaffir lime leaves, break them with your hand, and toss them directly into the soup. Breaking the kaffir lime leaves is going to release their flavor.
• Now add about ½ teaspoon of salt to begin with (taste to add more)
• Mix your tom kha gai slowly and gently, for about 5 - 10 minutes, making sure it doesn't come to a full boil - and if it does - turn down the heat to even lower. You want the chicken, onions, tomatoes, and other ingredients to be fully cooked, but you don't want to overcook the coconut milk.
• After about 5 - 10 minutes of cooking, go ahead and turn off the heat completely.
• Go back to your cutting board, slice up a handful of fresh cilantro, and add it to the soup. Give it a quick stir, and the cilantro will cook enough from the already hot soup.
• The final step is to juice a couple of limes into a separate bowl and then add about 4 tablespoons of lime juice to the tom kha gai (ต้มข่าไก่). Again, just give it a quick and gentle stir, and it's ready to be served.
• Make sure you do some taste-testing to make sure it's salty and sour enough. You may need to add a little extra salt or lime juice to get the flavor you want.

VEGAN TOM KHA SOUP (THAI INSPIRED)

Steps:

• When making a soup, I like to pre-chop all my vegetables for less stress during cooking time, but that's just a tip.
• Add the white onion, grated ginger, minced garlic, fresh lemongrass if you have it, and minced Thai chilies to a large nonstick pot. If you cook with oil you could certainly use that. I just add a little water from a small cup any time something starts to stick. Saute over medium high heat, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the Thai red curry paste and, if you couldn't find fresh lemongrass, the lemongrass paste. Stir constantly for another 1-2 minutes.
• Now add the chopped mushrooms and red bell pepper, and saute for 5 minutes, stirring frequently and adding a splash of water when needed.
• Add the vegan chicken broth or vegetable broth and coconut milk, turn the heat down to medium, and bring to a high simmer. Add the cubed tofu and let cook for about 6-8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, if using, soak or cook your rice vermicelli noodles in a different pot.
• Add the coconut sugar (if using), and juice of 2ish limes (to taste). Let warm for a minute or two, then remove from heat.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and add noodles to each bowl (if using). Garnish with thinly sliced green onions and lots of cilantro (if you like) and a few lime wedges.
• Store leftover soup separately from the noodles. They'll each keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in airtight containers. The noodles tend to soak up the broth, so I recommend storing separately when you can. This is a GREAT dish to take to work or school though. I often will make it the night before I go to work and take it for lunch the next day. I pack a lime wedge and some cilantro in a reusable stasher bag to add at work.

THE BEST THAI TOM KHA SOUP RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring coconut milk and chicken stock to a boil in a pot over high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add cilantro, lemongrass, galangal, Thai chile peppers, and kaffir lime leaves; simmer for 5 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-high heat. Add chicken; simmer until no longer pink in the center, about 7 minutes. Stir in cabbage; cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove soup from heat; stir in lime juice and fish sauce.

TOM KHA PASTE

Steps:

• Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until you have a smooth paste.
• Portion out 3 Tablespoon size mounds on sheets of plastic wrap.
• Place the wrapped portions in a sealed container and freeze it for later use.
• The paste can be stored for 6 months.

VEGGIE-PACKED AUTHENTIC TOM KHA GOONG

Steps:

• Warm the pot to medium heat and add sesame oil.
• Add shallots and bell peppers and saute until aromatic.
• Add shrimp and stir until mostly cooked.
• Remove everything from the pot and set aside.
• Add chicken broth, water, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and cilantro to the pot.
• Simmer on medium-high heat for 10 minutes, then strain out the herbs using a fine mesh sieve and discard.
• While the broth is cooking, cube the eggplant, shred the carrots, and chop the mushrooms to the size of your preference.
• Lower the heat to simmering and add coconut sugar. Stir to let it dissolve.
• Add all veggies except the tomatoes, Thai chilis, and scallions.
• Stir in soy sauce, and cover the pot for 10 more minutes.
• Turn heat off and add shrimp mixture, fish sauce, coconut milk, and the lime juice.
• Serve immediately with garnishes of cilantro, lime, additional thai chilis, and sriracha.

AUTHENTIC TOM KHA GAI

Steps:

• Pour chicken broth into a wok or medium size pot. Add lemongrass, galangal and shallot. Bring it to boil over medium high heat, then add palm sugar, fish sauce, coconut milk, tomatoes, mushrooms, lime leaves, Thai chilies and chicken. Stir gently and bring it to a light simmer, then reduce heat to medium and gently simmer for 6 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.
• Add green onion and cilantro. Turn off heat. Lastly, add lime juice. 1/4 cup if you like more creamier soup and 1/3 cup if you want more tangy flavor in your soup. Stir gently one last time and serve with warm cooked jasmine rice! Enjoy!

TOM KHA GAI

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the curry paste, stirring until fragrant. Add the chicken stock, coconut milk, lemongrass, ginger, chilies, lime juice, and fish sauce and bring it to a simmer, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken strips and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the mushrooms and the 1/4 cup basil and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add salt to taste if needed. Remove the lemongrass and ginger and serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves or cilantro.