Thai Tom Yum Soup With Coconut Milk Tom Kha Food

THAI CHICKEN SOUP WITH COCONUT MILK (TOM KA GAI)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Slice and mince the lower portion of the lemongrass stalk. Retain the upper stalk for the soup pot.
• Place chicken broth in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. If you have leftover chicken or turkey bones, add those too. Bring to a boil.
• Add the chicken and mushrooms.
• Then add the prepared lemongrass-including the upper stalk pieces-the makrut lime leaves, and fresh chilies.
• Boil 5 to 8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Reduce heat down to medium.
• Add the galangal or ginger, 1/2 can of the coconut milk, the fish sauce, and extra vegetables (if using). Stir well and simmer gently for 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
• Add the lime juice and stir. Do a taste test. Look for a balance between spicy, sour, salty, and sweet flavors. Start with saltiness, adding more fish sauce if the soup is not salty or flavorful enough, 1 tablespoon at a time. If it's too sour, add the brown sugar. If the soup is too spicy or if you'd like it creamier, add more coconut milk. If it's not spicy enough, add more chilies.
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Sprinkle a little fresh coriander, basil, and spring onions over each bowl.

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.

TOM YUM SOUP

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Pour the stock into a deep cooking pot over medium-high heat. Add the prepared lemongrass, including the upper sections of the stalk you didn't mince. Boil 5 to 6 minutes to soften.
• Add carrot, garlic, onion, galangal or ginger, lime leaves, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the fish sauce, soy sauce, and lime juice. Reduce heat slightly, cover, and continue simmering 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and zucchini, and continue simmering another 5 minutes.
• Add shrimp and cherry tomatoes. Cook 3 minutes or until shrimp are pink and plump.
• Turn down the heat to low and add 1/4 can coconut milk, chile oil, and brown sugar and red pepper flakes to taste (if using). Add the remaining teaspoon of fish sauce or more chile oil to taste. Discard the lime or bay leaves and the zest, if using. Serve with fresh cilantro sprinkled over and enjoy.

THAI CHICKEN SOUP WITH COCONUT (TOM KHA KAI)

Steps:

• Bring stock, ginger, lemongrass & lime zest to a boil. Cook one minute then add coconut milk & chicken breast. Simmer until chicken is cooked through.
• Combine chili paste, lemon juice, fish sauce and brown sugar. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add to soup w/ mushroom slices & diced chilis. Simmer until mushrooms are soft.
• Serve after removing ginger chunks & lemongrass pieces.