Karen Frostad's Thai Coconut Soup

Thai Coconut Soup

Adapted from http://www.shiokfood.com/notes/archives/000025.html

(check out their tips before making the soup)

*=Optional

• Chicken stock or broth - 1 cup
• Coconut milk - 1 cup
• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Garlic 1 cloves sliced
• Lemongrass - 1/2 a stalk (only the bottom white part (about 6 inches) discard the woody grass part of it)
• Galangal - fresh - 6 slices 2mm thick
• Red curry paste – 1 teaspoon
• *Kaffir Lime Leaves - 2 (this is supposed to be a key ingredient, but I’ve never used it)
• *Thai bird's eye chilies (or Serrano chilies) - 2-3 (big slices so you can avoid them easily)
• Fish sauce - 1 tbsp (The saltiness can vary a lot across brands, so start with less always!)
• Sugar - 1/2 tsp
• *Boneless chicken breast - 50 gm (chopped)
• *Straw mushrooms (or regular button mushrooms) - 4 (sliced)
• Lime juice - 2 tbsp
• *Coriander (cilantro for the Americans) leaves - 2 tbsp

Note: All of the unique ingredients can be found at Indo-China near Kmart and possibly other Asian markets. You can vary the meat and vegetables (try tofu, shrimp, bell peppers, shallots, zucchini, etc.)

With the flat side of a cleaver or a heavy object, pound and bruise the lemongrass so it releases the flavour. Cut into 2 inch segments.

Saute garlic, galangal, lemongrass, and lime leaves in oil for a couple minutes, add chicken stock and curry paste and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 8 minutes. Strain out the flavored broth and discard the galangal, lemongrass, lime leaves.

Add the coconut milk, sugar, chillies, fish sauce to the broth and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Finally, add the chicken and mushrooms and cook till the chicken is just cooked. The moment you see it turning all white on the outside, it's 90% done.

Turn off the heat, add lime juice and garnish with coriander leaves. Test for saltiness and sourness. You should get the earthy flavour of galangal, noticeable amount of saltiness, sweetness from the coconut milk, and a fair bit of lime flavour, with a hint of chilli in the background. If required, adjust with more fish sauce (salt) and lemon juice (sour).