Spicy chicken, coconut and galangal soup, or Tom Kha Kai

This coconut and galangal soup, originating from Thailand’s Central Plain, is one of the country's most beloved and iconic dishes. With its creamy, aromatic broth and a perfect balance of flavours, it’s a comforting meal that takes just 20 minutes to prepare and cook.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

500 ml chicken stock

1 lemongrass stalk, lightly bruised

2 kaffir lime leaves, gently crumpled

60 g galangal, thinly sliced

1 coriander root, lightly crushed

2 fresh bird’s eye chillies, sliced

25 g shallot, sliced

3 tablespoons fish sauce

1 teaspoon coconut sugar

2 tablespoons tamarind juice

150 g chicken tenderloin or chicken thighs (deboned), sliced

100 g mushrooms (such as oyster mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, or shimeji), halved or sliced as needed

250 ml coconut cream

1 tablespoon spring onions and coriander, chopped

Instructions:

1. Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a medium pot. Add the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, coriander root, bird's eye chillies, shallots, fish sauce, coconut sugar, tamarind juice, and chicken slices. Reduce the heat, cover, and let it simmer gently for 10 minutes to infuse the flavors.

2. Add the mushrooms and cook for an additional 3 minutes.

3. Lower the heat (the soup should no longer boil) and stir in the coconut cream. Mix gently and taste to adjust the seasoning, adding more fish sauce or tamarind juice if needed.

4. Before serving, remove the lemongrass stalk, kaffir lime leaves, galangal slices, and coriander root.

5. Pour the soup into serving bowls and garnish with chopped spring onions and coriander.

Enjoy this quick yet flavourful dish that showcases the heart of Thai cuisine!

Would you like to learn more about the cuisine of the Central Plains? Read our article dedicated to the Central Plains, the beating heart of Thai gastronomy, shaped by agricultural abundance, foreign influences and the birth of royal cuisine.

Want more delicious and easy-to-make soups like this one? Find this recipe and many more in my cookbook Soups! Grab your copy today and bring the flavors of Thailand to your kitchen!