Pin It
The Sticky Thai Chicken recipe I made several days ago was so good and I wanted more of all those wonderful Thai flavors – sour, spicy, salty, savory. This delicious chicken soup satisfied my cravings. Thai food is so easy to prepare at home if you have a few basic ingredients in your pantry. My grocery store carries almost everything I need for most Thai recipes and the harder to find items can be purchased in any good Asian market. I started this soup with a broth made of coconut milk and chicken stock and added red chili paste for flavor and heat, the ginger, lemon grass, lime and fish sauce (nam pla). I chose chicken for this recipe but pork or shrimp would work just as well. Use whatever vegetables you prefer, I picked green beans, diced eggplant and bok choy for this soup, but carrots, bean sprouts, even potato would be delicious as well. No need to cook the veggies ahead of time. Just let them simmer in the broth until they are tender. I used rice noodles in this particular recipe (a small handful is enough for 4 people if you like lots of broth in each serving). Taste as you go when adding red curry paste. I used 2 tablespoons for medium heat. I picked all the chunks of eggplant out of the soup pot first (so delicious) so will add a third one the next time.
My daughter, granddaughter and great-grandson will arrive next week from Chicago and we will celebrate three birthdays while they are here: my son’s, granddaughter’s and great-grandson’s (born on Valentine’s Day one year ago). This Thai soup will be on the menu along with all their birthday dinner favorites. The celebration dinner will start off with Dungeness Crab Caesar Salad and end with Strawberry Whipped Cream Roll and Blum’s Coffee Toffee Pie. What comes between these courses is still under negotiation. Be on the lookout for some of our favorite recipes in the next two weeks.
~
- 2 tablespoon Thai red curry paste, or to taste
- 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into narrow strips
- 4 ounces green beans
- 1 small head bok choy, sliced into ½ inch slices
- 2 small Japanese eggplants, halved lengthwise and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3 cups canned or homemade chicken stock
- 2 cans unsweetened coconut milk
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 2 stalks lemon grass, halved, white part only
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (nam pla)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 ounces rice noodles
- Scoop the thick coconut cream from the top of one of the cans of coconut milk into a large stockpot set over medium-high heat. Melt the cream, add the curry paste and stir for a few minutes until they begin to sizzle.
- Add the chicken and saute until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add green beans and eggplant and stir for another 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining coconut milk from the 2 cans, the chicken broth, lemon grass, fish sauce, lime juice and brown sugar. Grate the ginger into the broth with a microplane grater or standard box grater. Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Stir in the bok choy. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the rice noodles, gently pushing them beneath the surface of the broth. turn off the heat and let stand until the noodles soften, about 5 minutes. Rice noodles don't need to simmer like pasta to cook. They simply need to rehydrate in the hot liquid.
- Stir in most of the cilantro. Remove the lemon grass stalks. Taste and season with a dash of salt or soy sauce as needed. Ladle into large bowls and garnish with green onion slices and more chopped cilantro.
I, especially, love Thai. The Baker likes some. This soup is a favorite of ours! I have bookmarked your previous recipe and plan to pick up chicken thighs at Whole Foods on Sunday.
The birthday celebrations sound wonderful. Enjoy having the family.
Best,
Bonnie
Bonnie recently posted..Almond-Lemon Tea Cake
I had green curry last night – would love to try this.
I’m waiting anxiously for the coffee toffee pie!
Cathy, I know we would love this soup. Thanks for sharing. And enjoy this special month for your family. Will be watching to see what is cooking in the kitchen!!!
Susan recently posted..Mushroom and Barley Soup
Ohhhhhh, so good lookin’!
Ramona recently posted..What’s in our garden
This looks and sounds fantastic! My husband Loves Thai; I pinned this one. All these ingredients are calling my name.
Rita
Good morning Cathy. Soup looks goooood! But I would have to leave the curry out. That is one flavor I have never been able to “cotton” to.
: ( Happy Wednesday!
I’ve never tried this..it does sound great!
You will have a fun time w/all the celebrations..
I still cannot believe you are a great Nana..U look way too young:)
Monique recently posted..February~
Doesn’t that look delicious. Thai food is practically our favorite cusine to have when eating out. I made pumpkin chicken curry last night. I’ve printed this recipe out and will try it sometime soon. Thanks.
A couple months ago, I was talking with someone who used to own a Chinese restaurant. He totally agreed that Thai is the easiest Oriental food for home cooks to prepare. Chinese, too much big equipment needed; Japanese, hard to find ingredients … etc. I love Thai food and it’s flavors. Not sure how I lived without coconut milk, lime and cilantro combination. This soup looks fabulous Cathy. Enjoy your birthday celebrations!
Lea Ann recently posted..Classic Chicken Soup
A warm bowl of soup always tastes great! Your celebration dinner sounds delicious.
~Judy
JG recently posted..~Festive Guest Towels~
I can get excited about this Thai soup…Love, love it. Have I mentioned that I love your recipes that you share? I do.
I am finally posting the Almond Joy bread tomorrow. It was delicious. A new family favorite. I have been really enjoying it with my morning coffee.
Velva
velva recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
This looks so wonderful and I love all of the flavors in this recipe! Have a wonderful time with your family, Cathy. Wonderful times 🙂
Susan recently posted..Glazed Asian Drumsticks
Your soup looks delicious Cathy. I haven’t delved into Thai cooking yet, but I love to eat it.
I’m sure your family will enjoy this soup, just as much as you will enjoy having them at your home.
I’m looking forward to your recipes next week.
Lynda recently posted..Cheesy Pizza Dip – from Ellie Krieger
Mmmm…this looks so tasty! I love all of those flavors, as well. Perfect way to prepare for your busy time ahead 😀
Heather @girlichef recently posted..Tamal de Fresa (Strawberry Tamales) {she made, ella hace}
I love Thai food and your recipe sounds delicious. I wouldn’t have thought of using eggplant…thanks for the tip. I’m really looking forward to your famalies favorite recipes. I know you will enjoy being with your family. Happy birthday wishes to all of them.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..My Version Of Cuban Pork With Black Beans and Rice
I love the flavors of Thai food, and this soup sounds so delicious and packed with all those great flavors. I am so happy for you that your family is coming to visit. Sounds like they are in for a treat with the all yummy food you are preparing:)
Raina recently posted..Nonnie Carmella’s Italian Rice Dinner
this looks so delicious – I’m always meaning to make curry and this recipe sounds just the ticket!
Mary x
i never considered myself to be a huge curry fan, and then a tried a red curry dish yesterday and i’m totally obsessed. if i can learn to make it that good, i’ll eat curry everyday. i have got to try this soup!
teresa recently posted..Cheesy Ham and Potatoes
My mouth is watering. This soup looks delicious. I think I must make it very soon. Happy visit with your family. Curious about the Blum’s Coffee Toffee Pie? Is it from the Blum’s ice cream shop?
Marilyn recently posted..Temperature makes the Difference
Oh, this sounds fabulous. We are very addicted to red curry thai but I haven’t had it in a soup. I have the ingredients – a must try especially with it cold outside. I know the kids will love it too.
Jacqueline recently posted..Very Very Valentines Table
This sounds very interesting! I have never had anything like it.
Can’t wait to see what else you make. They will be well fed!
Kathleen recently posted..♥♥~Calling All Love Birds~♥♥
Happy birthday to all. This soup makes a great celebration. I can’t get over that you have a grand-son. You are much too young. But we have a granddaughter that is the marrying age, so my day may be rapidly approaching. She is actually my husband’s granddaughter, but we call her ours. Works for me.
Enjoy your weekend Cathy.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Lemon Arugula Salad with Roasted Carrots and Parmesan Cheese
This sounds very different!
I love Thai food and there certainly aren’t any Thai restaurants in the middle of Montana, so I just might have to give this a try. What fun with the family there and I imagine half the fun is being able to cook their favorites for them!
Karen recently posted..Ooey Gooey Butter Layer Cake – Paula Deen
I tried this last night and it was really incredibly delicious! I subbed out the green beans for snap/snow peas and added some broccoli and mushrooms. With a good homemade chicken broth this is just a wonderful dish. I also found that with a sweet lime you don’t need the brown sugar, although I’ll use it next time to see what I was missing 🙂 Thank you for the recipe!