Description
Thai coconut Tom kha soup blends creamy coconut milk with tender chicken and aromatic herbs. Balanced flavors from lemongrass, ginger, and lime create a comforting bowl you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 small chicken breasts (approx. 1 lb / 454 g), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 (13.5-oz / 400-ml) cans full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream
- 8 oz / 226 g white mushroom caps, sliced
- ½ onion, sliced
- 3 quarter-inch slices galangal or ginger
- 1 lemongrass stalk, pounded with the side of a knife, cut into 2-inch-long pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- ½ red jalapeño pepper, sliced
- 2–3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 10 lime leaves, torn (optional)
- 1 tbsp red curry paste
- 2–3 tbsps brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 2–3 tbsps fish sauce
- 2–3 tbsps freshly squeezed lime juice
- Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Nestle diced onion, minced garlic, chopped jalapeño, grated ginger, bruised lemongrass, and torn lime leaves with red curry paste into the slow cooker. Cascade chicken broth over these ingredients, creating a robust flavor base.
- Flavor Infusion: Activate the slow cooker on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours, allowing spices and herbs to meld and develop complex, rich undertones. Discard whole lemongrass stalks and lime leaves to maintain smooth soup texture.
- Protein and Creaminess: Integrate boneless chicken pieces and sliced mushrooms into the fragrant liquid. Stream full-fat coconut milk into the mixture, transforming the broth into a luxurious, velvety consistency. Continue cooking until chicken becomes delicately shreddable.
- Seasoning Elevation: Introduce brown sugar, fish sauce, and freshly squeezed lime juice, stirring to harmonize flavor nuances. Calibrate taste with additional salt or spices for a perfectly balanced profile.
- Presentation Finale: Transfer the steaming soup into serving vessels. Crown each portion with a generous sprinkle of chopped cilantro and gossamer-thin green onion slices, creating a visually stunning and aromatic Thai-inspired culinary experience.
Notes
- Aromatics Removal: Carefully pluck out whole lemongrass stalks and lime leaves before serving to prevent tough, stringy textures in each spoonful.
- Coconut Milk Selection: Use full-fat coconut milk for a rich, creamy consistency that adds authentic Thai flavor and luxurious mouthfeel.
- Chicken Tenderness: Cook chicken until it shreds easily with a fork, ensuring perfectly tender meat that absorbs the soup’s complex spices.
- Flavor Balancing: Adjust seasoning at the end with fish sauce, lime juice, and salt to create a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy notes typical in Thai cuisine.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg