Rudys Thai Chicken Coconut Soup Tom Ka Gai Food

TOM KA KAI (THAI COCONUT CHICKEN SOUP)

Steps:

• In the bottom of a large soup pot, heat the oil over high heat until very hot but not smoking. I often make this is a wok on the stove.
• Salt the chicken and add to oil, tossing to brown all the pieces. Cook about 3 minutes or until outside is browned, but not necessarily cooked all the way through.
• Add mushrooms and toss. Allow to cook until some of the moisture is cooked out and the mushrooms are soft. Turn down heat to medium-low.
• To prepare the lemongrass, slice and mince the lower portion and reserve the stalk to flavor the soup. You can use a food processor for this, or just mince it by hand. The woody upper portion of the stalk will be removed later, so don't chop it up, simply score it by making a few superficial cuts in it to allow it to flavor the soup.
• Add the whites of the onions, reserving the greens. Add the minced lower portion of the lemongrass, grated galangal, and chilies. Toss until just warmed through.
• Add the lemongrass stalk, lime leaves, chicken stock, coconut milk, lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar and remaining onions, reserving just a few for garnish. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend well.
• Taste test and adjust flavors as follows:.
• Not salty enough - add more fish sauce.
• Too sour - add a little more brown sugar.
• Too spicy - add more coconut milk.
• Not spicy enough - add more chilies.
• Ladle into 4 soup bowls and garnish with remaining onion greens, cilantro, and basil.
• Variations:.
• Add more vegetables such as some sliced red bell peppers with the mushrooms.
• Serve over wide rice noodles for a main dish serving.
• Make vegetarian by increasing mushrooms in place of chicken and substituting vegetable stock.

RED THAI CURRY CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. When it shimmers, add the garlic, ginger, and Thai red curry paste and cook, stirring constantly, until dark red and very fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, coconut milk, fish sauce, lemongrass, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the lemongrass and ginger are tender, about 15 minutes. Discard the lemongrass.
• Meanwhile, put the noodles in a medium bowl and cover with hot water. Let stand for 10 minutes, then drain and set aside. Toss together the red onion, cilantro, scallions and Thai basil in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Stir the chicken into the broth and simmer over low heat until tender, 5 minutes for chicken breast and about 15 minutes for chicken thighs. Increase the heat to high and stir in the noodles. Bring the soup to a boil, then immediately remove from the heat. Stir in the lime juice. Serve the soup in bowls topped with the reserved onion and herb mixture.

RUDY'S THAI CHICKEN COCONUT SOUP -- TOM KA GAI

Steps:

• In a soup pot, combine stock, 1/2 can of coconut milk, fresh ginger if using, and the white parts of the chopped green onions. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and mushrooms, and let the chicken gently poach until it's fully cooked, about 10 minutes (or longer, depending on how thin the slices are cut). When chicken is firm and opaque, add lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar and chili paste.
• Taste and adjust seasonings - you should have a harmonious balance of flavors. If you have too much heat, or want to add richness to the broth, add more of the coconut milk, to taste.
• Garnish each serving with the chopped green onion, cilantro leaves, and Thai basil leaves (if using).

TOM KA GAI (SPICY CHICKEN SOUP W/ COCONUT MILK)

Steps:

• Place the chicken stock (or broth) in a stockpot, add lemon grass, ginger and lime leaves. I recommend slicing the lime leaves along the veins almost to the midrib to allow for more flavor release. These kaffir lime leaves are used in the same fashion we season soups with bay leaves. Bring the broth to a slow boil over medium heat.
• Add sliced chicken, mushrooms, water chestnuts, salt, lime juice, fish sauce and sugar, reserving more lime juice and fish sauce to add later to taste.
• Cook slowly, uncovered for 10 - 15 minutes, then add coconut milk, cilantro, green onion, tomato, fresh coconut meat, bruised chilies, and red curry paste. Stirring frequently, bring almost to a boil, then remove from heat and serve if you are happy with the flavor of lime juice to fish sauce in conjunction with the other ingredients. Cook this soup gently to prevent the coconut milk from separating.

TOM KHA GAI, THAI COCONUT CHICKEN SOUP!

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ginger, lemongrass, and curry paste and stir and cook in the heated oil for 1 minute. Slowly pour the chicken broth over the mixture, stirring continually. Add the lime leaves and chillies and simmer gently for 10 minutes to infuse the broth.
• After 10 minutes, stir in the fish sauce and brown sugar; simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and mushrooms; cook and stir until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken and cook until no longer translucent, about 2-5 minutes. Watch carefully, do not overcook. Remove from heat and stir in the lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. To serve, drizzle with a little chilli oil and/or garnish with cilantro and lime wedges.

THAI RED CURRY CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Cook curry paste in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until oils start to release, 1 to 2 minutes. Add red pepper and onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in coconut milk until well blended. Add fish sauce, and then chicken stock.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add cooked chicken and rice. Stir over heat until warmed through. Add chopped cilantro right before serving.