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Does anyone know how to make Tom Kha Gai soup? The Thai way?
I keep seeing these recipes but not the traditional Thai way....
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Asked by Anonymous at 8:28 PM on Feb. 15, 2012 in Food & Drink
This question is closed.
Answers (13)
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Most of the recipes do call for chicken but I'm vegetarian so I don't use fish or chicken, I just use tofu. Here's the recipe that I use. I got it from Thai Food by David Johnson.
Broth:
1 can coconut milk
2-3 cups chicken stock (homemade is best, then the stuff in cartons; boullion cubes are a last resort.)
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon palm sugar (I usually substitute brown sugar)
2 stalks fresh lemongrass, washed and choppped in chunks (dried lemongrass is far inferior - punch it up with extra lime juice and zest at the end if you're forced to go this route)
3 red shallots, peeled and chunked (I often substitute 3 smashed cloves of garlic plus a bit of onion)
2 coriander roots, scraped (I usually substitute a pinch of whole coriander seed plus a handful of fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves)
2 chili peppers, halved (pick your favorite type, and modify number to suit your spice taste)
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What makes it traditional, as opposed to the recipes you are finding? I have a Thai cookbook but I don't want to give you another recipe that isn't right.Found an answer to your question?
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I'm not sure, some recipes say to add fish sauce and soy sauce and cilantro, others say, you will ruin the dish by adding those items in. Some say, you can't have veggie Tom Kha Gai soup, you have to have some kind of meat in it. I went to a Thai grocery store today and she said to put two coconut milk cans in the soup, recipes say one, but I would like to make it rich.... So I think I'm a little confused...
Comment by Anonymous (original poster) at 8:43 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
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1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut to 1" pieces (you can use tofu or shrimp if you'd rather)
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1-3 Tablespoons fish sauce
1 can baby corn, drained and chopped to 1/2" chunks (optional)
1 Tablespoon lime juice
1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup grape tomatoes halved, or 2 plum tomatoes coarsely choppedFound an answer to your question?
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I tried trading out the fish sauce for soy but it made a pretty big difference in the way it tasted so you might not want to do that.Found an answer to your question?
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Thank you so much ! I'm starting dinner
Comment by Anonymous (original poster) at 9:38 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
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I make a vegetarian version of this:
3-4 cups chicken stock (this makes enough soup to serve 2 people)
1 stalk lemongrass, lower 1/3 finely minced
3 kaffir lime leaves (available fresh or frozen at Asian food stores)
12-14 medium or large raw shrimp, shelled
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1-2 small red chilies, minced OR 1/2 tsp. dried crushed chili (to taste)
3 cloves garlic, minced
optional: a handful of cherry tomatoes
generous handful fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly
1 green and/or red bell pepper, sliced
1/2 can coconut milk (add more or less to taste)
1/3 cup fresh coriander, roughly chopped
optional: additional red chilies, OR Nam Prik Pao Chili Sauce (1-2 tsp.)
optional: 1 tsp. brown sugar, and a squeeze of lime juice
Preparation:
Pour stock into a deep cooking pot and turn heat to medium-high.
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Add processed lemongrass to the pot, including the parts of the lemongrass stalk you didn't slice.
Boil for 5 minutes, or until fragrant.
Add garlic, chili, lime leaves, and mushrooms to broth.
Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
Add shrimp, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes (if using).
Cook 5-6 minutes, or until shrimp is pink and plump.
Turn down the heat to low and add 1/2 can coconut milk plus fish sauce.
Test the soup for spice and salt, adding more chili and/or fish sauce (instead of salt) as desired.
If too sour for your taste, add 1 tsp. brown sugar.
If too salty, add a squeeze of lime juice.
Add more coconut milk if you want your soup richer/creamier, or if it's too spicy for your taste.
Serve in bowls with fresh coriander sprinkled over.
Variations:
If you prefer chicken over seafood, substitute chicken breast for shrimp (cut the chicken into bite-size pieces).
Rice noodles caFound an answer to your question?
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Let me know if you like it!Found an answer to your question?
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Yummy ! It was so good ! I just HATE fish sauce.... I did put some in the soup though... It was amazing... Thank you :)
Comment by Anonymous (original poster) at 10:40 PM on Feb. 15, 2012
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