Tom Ka Gai - Galangal, chicken and coconut soup
Tom Ka Gai is also known as Thai coconut chicken soup. It is an authentic soup full of amazing Thai flavors. The broth is a hot and sour, spicy chicken soup made with coconut milk, galangal, Thai chili, coriander, lemongrass, straw mushrooms, chicken, and fish sauce. The use of galangal combined with the lemongrass brings a strong punch to the soup flavor profile. Because of the resemblance to ginger, galangal is called the Tai ginger. Compared to ginger, galangal has a sharp citrusy, almost piney flavor, and rose aroma, while ginger is fresh, pungently spicy, and barely sweet, which makes them very different.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 stalks lemongrass, roots trimmed
- 14 fl.oz coconut milk
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1 inch piece fresh galangal, peeled and finely sliced
- 12 whole black peppercorns, crushed
- 15 leaves kaffir lime, torn
- 11 ounces chicken breast, boneless, skinless and cut into thin strips
- 6 ounces button white mushrooms, halved and sliced
- 4 ounces baby corn cobs, quartered lengthways
- 4 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons Thai fish sauce
GARNISH
- 2 to 3 red chillies, seeded and finely chopped
- 0.5 cup green onions, finely sliced
- 0.25 cup coriander leaves, fresh
Instructions
- Cut off the lower 2 inches from each lemongrass stalk and chop it finely. Bruise the remaining pieces of stalks, by crushing them lengthwise with a pestle. Bring the coconut milk and chicken stock to a boil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped and bruised lemongrass, the galangal, peppercorns, and half the kaffir lime leaves, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- Strain the soup into a clean pan. Return the soup to low heat, and then stir in the chicken strips, mushrooms, and corn. Simmer gently, occasionally stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.
- Stir in the lime juice and fish sauce, then add the remaining lime leaves. Ladle into warm bowls and serve, garnished with chopped chilies, spring onions and coriander leaves.