Best Ever Tom Kha Gai (Print Version)

Creamy Thai coconut soup with chicken, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs in a tangy lime broth.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken & Broth

01 - 14 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
02 - 3⅓ cups chicken stock
03 - 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk

→ Aromatics

04 - 2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and smashed
05 - 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
06 - 3 slices galangal or fresh ginger
07 - 3 Thai bird's eye chilies, crushed
08 - 4 cloves garlic, smashed
09 - 4 small shallots, sliced

→ Vegetables

10 - 7 oz oyster or white mushrooms, sliced
11 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Seasonings

12 - 2½ tablespoons fish sauce
13 - 1½ tablespoons fresh lime juice
14 - 1 teaspoon palm sugar or light brown sugar
15 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Garnishes

16 - Fresh cilantro leaves
17 - Sliced green onions
18 - Lime wedges
19 - Thinly sliced red chili, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring chicken stock to a gentle boil in a large saucepan. Add lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, chilies, garlic, and shallots. Simmer for 5 minutes to develop aromatic depth.
02 - Add sliced chicken breast to the broth. Reduce heat to gentle simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
03 - Pour coconut milk into the soup, stirring gently. Add mushrooms and tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes, maintaining gentle heat to prevent boiling.
04 - Season with fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, and salt. Taste and adjust seasonings according to preference.
05 - Remove lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and garlic with a slotted spoon before serving, if desired.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, lime wedges, and additional chili if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The broth achieves that restaurant quality depth without needing hard to find ingredients or hours of simmering
  • You can control every element from the heat level to the lime brightness making it yours every time
02 -
  • Never let coconut milk boil vigorously or it will separate and become grainy
  • The soup tastes better after sitting for 20 minutes so the flavors really marry together
03 -
  • Freeze your lemongrass and galangal if you find good fresh ones so you never have to skip them
  • Use the heel of your knife to smash aromatics it releases more flavor than chopping
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