Tom Kha Gai Thai Chicken Coconut Soup 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.

TOM KHA GAI (THAI CHICKEN COCONUT SOUP)

Steps:

• Bring the stock, lime leaves, lemon grass, sugar, galangal and chili paste to a boil in small pot.
• Add the coconut milk and bring to a simmer.
• Add the chicken and mushrooms and bring to a simmer, quickly stir in the lime juice and fish sauce. Float the chilies on the soup and serve, garnishing with cilantro.
• I serve this dish with sticky rice on the side and a quick salad of chilies, vinegar, sugar, onion and cucumber.

TOM KHA KAI (CHICKEN COCONUT SOUP)

Steps:

• Combine half the coconut milk with the galangal, lemon grass, and lime leaves in a large sauce pan and heat to boiling.
• Add chicken, fish sauce, and sugar.
• Simmer for about 4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked, and then add the remaining coconut milk.
• Heat just to boiling and turn off the heat.
• Place the lime juice and chilli paste in a serving bowl and pour the soup over them.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and crushed chillies.