Tom Kha Gai Soup (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)
Updated: Oct. 25, 2023
From learning how to handle coconut milk to preparing Thai aromatics, this tom kha gai recipe will keep you on your toes. But the bright and creamy broth is worth the effort!
I’ve always seen myself as an experienced soup maker, especially in the realm of Thai cuisine. Then it struck me one day: I had never made tom kha gai in my own kitchen.
My parents owned a Thai restaurant, so I’ve made this soup in a fast-paced environment, under pressure. But I had never made a small batch of tom kha gai for just a few people, right at home.
Tom Kha Gai Key Ingredients
Thai food is known for being aromatic, spicy, fragrant and earthy. Do your best sourcing these Thai ingredients. Search around your city to see if there’s a southeast Asian market, or even call a Thai restaurant and ask for suggestions as to where to source these ingredients locally.
And of course, you can find these items on Amazon, too.
- Coconut milk: Coconut milk is a staple in my home and many Thai homes. Use pure coconut milk and not coconut cream or cream of coconut for this broth. Since tom kha gai is silky and light, use boxed or fresh coconut milk (canned milks tend to separate). Look for coconut milk that is meant for cooking and not a beverage.
- Fish sauce: Fish sauce is a shelf-stable, distilled liquid made from fish or krill, so it comes out brown, clear and salty. I’m an avid user of Viêt Húóng Three Crabs and Squid fish sauce. If you want to make a vegan tom kha gai, source a vegetarian version of fish sauce.
- Galangal: A rhizome that is super bright, yet offers a mellow spicy and woodsy flavor. If you can’t source fresh galangal, order the sliced dried root rather than a powder, as the dried slices are better for simmering in a broth. If galangal is unavailable, a fresh ginger root is second best.
- Lemongrass: This aromatic is a grass that has a citrus undertone. Its woody leaves can be tough to cut, so have a sharp knife handy. Use the bottom half of where the root would be and slice long diagonal pieces to get the most flavor.
- Makrut: Also known as kaffir. This recipe uses the leaves, which hold a lot of the fragrance needed to really brighten up the soup. If you cannot source this fresh, makrut is often sold frozen at markets or dried. If this is something that can’t be sourced at all, a squeeze of lime juice and bit of zest will do.
- Palm sugar: Made from palm sap, this is the predominant sweetener in Thai cooking. You can choose turbinado or brown sugar as a substitute. I wouldn’t recommend opting out of sweetener altogether because there needs to be a tender balance between the sourness and earthy notes of all the other ingredients.
- Thai or bird’s eye chilis: While one may be small, it can pack an absurdly spicy punch. It’s an ingredient that can be substituted with another fresh chili pepper, such as jalapeno, serrano or habanero. Be careful with the amount you use and wear food-safe gloves when handling any pepper if you’re not used to the heat.
How to Make Tom Kha Gai
Ingredients
- 3 cups coconut milk, full fat, boxed or canned
- 2 cups chicken stock or water
- 10-12 ounces chicken breast or thigh meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 inch galangal piece, sliced into equal slices
- 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced at a long diagonal
- 1 medium onion, sliced into wedges
- 2 bell peppers in variety of colors, stemmed, seeded and cut into ½ inch chunks or thick strips
- 4-5 cherry tomatoes or 1 whole roma tomato, quartered
- 1/4 pound mushrooms (I chose enoki and king oyster)
- 1-4 Thai chilies, stemmed and quartered
- 3-4 makrut leaves, rinsed and torn into smaller pieces
- 1-3 ounces palm sugar
- 2-3 teaspoons fish sauce
- 1 bunch cilantro, chop stems for broth, keep leaves for garnish
- 2-3 limes, cut into wedges, reserve half for serving
- Chili crisp or chili oil
- Cooked jasmine rice or rice noodles
Tools
- Flat utility knife: A flat, square knife like this is perfect for all the tough-skinned aromatics and vegetables you’ll have to chop.
- Asian soup spoons: These are great for sipping on soups, especially when they have large pieces of meat or veggies in them.
- Dutch oven: This heavy-bottomed pot is great for cooking liquids or sauces that are sensitive to heat. It disperses heat evenly and will prevent overheating.
Directions
Step 1: Simmer the coconut milk
Start by simmering 1 cup of coconut milk on low heat.
Step 2: Add the lemongrass, galangal and chicken
Before adding your sliced lemongrass and galangal, give it a bit of a bang with a mallet or pestle, as that will release the aromatics of the ingredients. Throw it into the simmering coconut milk, add your chicken, and continue to keep it on a low simmer for about 5-6 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in more coconut milk
Stir in another cup of coconut milk, so as to not let the coconut milk overheat and curdle. Keep it on the same medium-low temperature.
Then add your palm sugar, cilantro stems, Thai chilies, bell peppers, tomatoes, makrut and onion.
Step 4: Add the remaining ingredients
Finally, after the broth has been infused with herbs and the vegetables have softened, add 1 cup chicken stock or water, fish sauce, lime juice and mushrooms. Let this final addition to the soup simmer for 5 minutes before serving. Don’t forget to check out our collection of Thai chicken recipes.
Editor’s Tip: The large pieces of galangal, makrut and lemongrass aren’t meant to be eaten.
If you’ve enjoyed making this Thai dish, I recommend checking out some other ways to dive into Thai recipes.
How to Serve Tom Kha Gai
This is served as a family meal, so it’s meant for sharing. Have your soup bowls, soup spoons and ladle ready to serve this to others. Though most Thai restaurants serve tom kha gai in a shabu dish, it’s not necessary to have when eating at home. Traditionally, this is served over steamed jasmine rice, but you can have fun serving it over rice noodles, too.
The toppings served with tom kha gai vary, but a bundle of cilantro leaves, wedges of lime, extra fish sauce and a basic chili oil are standard options. Every individual will end up adding their own flavors as they please.
Keep in mind that not every Thai home, restaurant or street food vendor makes every Thai dish exactly the same. I’ve given you a range of some ingredients to make this recipe to your personal taste.
Tips for Making Tom Kha Gai
Can you make tom kha gai with a different kind of meat?
You don’t have to stick with chicken—treat yourself to a seafood variety by adding prawns, mussels and clams.
How can you make tom kha gai vegan?
If you are vegan or vegetarian, add tofu to your tom kha gai. Add the same amount of tofu as you would chicken. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
How do you prevent coconut milk from curdling?
Just like cow’s milk, coconut milk can curdle or be overcooked. Always cook on a medium to low simmer, don’t let it come to a full boil. As I’ve learned, stir in one direction, and gently.
Originally Published: November 12, 2021
