This Thai coconut soup is rich, satisfying, and full of flavor! Made with a creamy spiced coconut milk base, crispy pan-fried tofu, tender veggies, and topped with fresh herbs, this soup tastes like it came from a restaurant, but is surprisingly easy to whip up in your own kitchen.
Have you ever tried to recreate a Thai dish you had at a restaurant and been super disappointed? I know I have! Thai coconut soup was one of those dishes. I tried so many recipes but could never get anything close to as good as restaurant quality. Finally I discovered the problem: the ingredients. Thai Coconut Soup Ingredients
Most of the recipes I’d been trying called for ingredients that were accessible, but not necessarily authentic. My recipe calls for ingredients that might not be super familiar to you, but they add so much flavor! LemongrassLemongrass is a grass with a mild, citrusy flavor. You should be able to find it in the produce section of your regular supermarket! If not, try an Asian market. If all else fails, buy jarred lemongrass online. GalangalThis is a root that’s related to the ginger you’re probably familiar with. It’s sometimes referred to as Thai ginger. Galangal is a bit firmer than regular ginger, and I find the flavor to be a big more pungent. You might luck out and find Thai ginger at the supermarket (I did! Wegmans often has it.). Otherwise, try an Asian market. If you find some galangal when you’re not quite ready to use it, fear not! Just buy it, stick it in a sealed bag and freeze it for later. You can substitute regular ginger if absolutely needed. Kaffir Lime LeavesKaffir limes are a variety of lime with a flavor that’s a tad stronger than what you’re used to. I find the leaves to add an almost floral flavor to dishes like this. You might be able to find fresh kaffir lime leaves at an Asian market, but I find this a rarity, at least where I live. Fortunately, they’re available in dried form online. Sambal OelekThis is an Indonesian chili paste that’s available at most supermarkets these days. If you can’t find it, try an Asian market. You could also get away with substituting sriracha if that’s easier for you. That’s it for the ingredients that I consider to be somewhat challenging to find. In addition, you’ll need some oil, shallots, garlic, coconut milk, lime juice, tofu, veggies and fresh cilantro. How to Make Thai Coconut SoupPrep Your IngredientsBe sure to read this section if some of the ingredients in this coconut soup are new to you! Lemongrass
Lemongrass is pretty tough stuff, and if you don’t prepare it properly it can end up as a bunch of hard, chewy bits in your soup. Nobody wants that! To prep your lemongrass, grab a stalk and cut a slit down the length of it. The slit should penetrate almost to the center of the stalk. Now peel off the tough outer layer so you’re left with the slightly less tough inner core. Chop this part up as finely as you can. (Note that I’m prepping a very skinny stalk in the photo, shown next to a pretty fat stalk. A typical one would probably be sized somewhere between the two.) When it’s time to add the lemongrass to your soup you can add it directly, or, if you didn’t get it chopped as finely as you’d like, try placing it into a tea infuser. Kaffir Lime Leaves
If you’re using dried kaffir lime leaves, place them in a bowl or cup of hot water to soak about 20 minutes before you start cooking. Galangal
Ideally you’ll want to grate your galangal, just like you would with regular ginger. Galangal is a bit harder than regular ginger, making it a bit tougher to grate. Feel free to mince it finely with a knife if that’s easier for you. Make the SoupThe tofu gets cooked separately from everything else, so you may want to start with that. I say may because you can also cook the tofu on a separate pan while the soup simmers (to save time!). The only reason I sometimes do it first is so that I can use the pot that the soup will simmer in (fewer dishes to wash!). In any event, heat up some oil in the pot or a nonstick skillet. Add some cubed tofu and cook it for about 10 minutes. Flip the tofu a couple of times while it cooks. The goal is to get the pieces browned and crispy on multiple sides.
If you cooked the tofu in your soup pot, take it out and transfer it to a plate. Heat up some more oil in the pot and add your shallots. Let them soften up a bit, then add your garlic, galangal, and some finely chopped fresh cilantro. Cook everything for about a minute, until the mixture becomes very fragrant. Now add those kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass, along with some broth, coconut milk, baby corn and shiitake mushrooms. Bring the liquid up to a boil and let it simmer until the veggies are tender. Add some broccoli during the last five minutes of simmering, then take the pot off of the burner.
Stir in your tofu, some lime juice, and sambal oelek. Season the soup with salt and ladle it into bowls. Top your soup with fresh cilantro, scallions and/or basil.
Thai Coconut Soup Tips & FAQ
Like this recipe? If so, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter. And please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you make it! Thai Coconut SoupThis Thai coconut soup is rich, satisfying, and full of flavor! Made with a creamy spiced coconut milk base, crispy pan-fried tofu, tender veggies, and topped with fresh herbs, this soup tastes like it came from a restaurant, but is surprisingly easy to whip up in your own kitchen. Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Total Time 50 minutes Servings 4 Author Alissa Saenz Ingredients
Instructions
Recipe Notes*You can substitute a tablespoon of lime zest if needed, though the flavor will be slightly different. **Lemongrass paste (available in the produce section of most supermarkets) may be used if you can’t find fresh. I’m not entirely sure how much to use though, so I’d add it to taste, just a bit at a time when the soup is almost finished cooking. ***You can substitute regular ginger if needed, though the flavor will be slightly different. Nutrition Facts Thai Coconut Soup Amount Per Serving (1.5 cups) Calories 514.8 Calories from Fat 324 % Daily Value* Fat 36g55% Saturated Fat 29g145% Sodium 638mg27% Potassium 1012mg29% Carbohydrates 32.7g11% Fiber 7.2g29% Sugar 9g10% Protein 15g30% Calcium 13mg1% Iron 31mg172% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Sharing is caring! from http://easyveganrecipes.info/thai-coconut-soup/
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