Name: Tom Kha Gai Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 1 cup mushrooms, sliced; 2 tablespoons fish sauce; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 2 cups chicken broth; 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk; 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed; 2 stalks lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces and smashed; 3-4 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces; 1-inch piece of galangal (or ginger), sliced; 2-3 Thai chilies, sliced (adjust to taste); 1 teaspoon sugar (optional); 2 green onions, chopped; ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped; ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

Description

Tom Kha Gai Soup is a Thai coconut chicken soup known for its rich, creamy broth, aromatic herbs, and perfect balance of tangy, savory, and spicy flavors. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for a cozy meal at home and can be customized to suit different dietary preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 cups chicken broth
1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
2 stalks lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces and smashed
3–4 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces
1-inch piece of galangal (or ginger), sliced
2–3 Thai chilies, sliced (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
2 green onions, chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

Instructions

Prepare the broth: In a pot over medium heat, bring the chicken broth to a simmer. Add lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Add coconut milk & mushrooms: Stir in coconut milk and mushrooms. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
Cook the chicken: Add the cooked chicken to the soup and stir well.
Season the soup: Add fish sauce, lime juice, sugar (if using), Thai chilies, and salt. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Final touch: Remove from heat, discard the lemongrass and lime leaves, then garnish with green onions and fresh cilantro.
Serve: Enjoy warm with a side of jasmine rice or on its own.

Notes

For a milder soup, reduce the number of Thai chilies or remove the seeds.
If you can’t find kaffir lime leaves, use extra lime juice and zest as a substitute.
For a vegan version, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and fish sauce with soy sauce.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

Calories: 290
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 780mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 14g
Carbohydrates: 10g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 21g
Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: Thai coconut chicken soup, authentic Tom Kha Gai, Thai coconut soup, Thai chicken soup