Tom Yum Kai Recipes

TOM YUM GAI (THAI HOT & SOUR CHICKEN SOUP)

Steps:

• In a medium-sized soup pot, heat the peanut oil over medium-high heat. Saute the chicken and/or tofu, onion (not the green onions), half each of the ginger and lemongrass until the chicken is only a little bit pink and the onion translucent.
• Add the stock, fish sauce, remaining ginger and lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and (optional) serrano chilies. Simmer 10 - 15 minute covered on medium-low heat.
• Add the sugar, Nam Prik Pao, and sliced tomatoes. Simmer an additional 2 minute.
• Turn heat fully to low and add the lime juice to taste. Add half of the diced cilantro and the green onions, then let simmer on low for another few minutes.
• Sprinkle with the remaining cilantro and serve with additional lime juice.

TOM YUM KAI

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Add lemon grass, galangal, and kaffir leaves. Cook for 1 minute. Add fish sauce and cook for 1 minute. Add chile paste and reduce heat to medium. Add tomatoes and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Increase heat to high and add chicken. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add lime juice and stir.
• Add chiles to soup and remove from heat.

THAI TOM YUM SOUP WITH COCONUT MILK (TOM KHA)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Add stock to a deep cooking pot and bring to a boil.
• Add the lemongrass and boil for 1 to 2 minutes. If using fresh lemongrass , also add the upper stalk pieces for extra flavor.
• Add lime leaves, garlic, chile, and mushrooms. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add shrimp, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes . Simmer 3 to 4 minutes, or until shrimp are pink and plump.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and add the coconut milk, fish sauce, and lime juice. Stir well to combine and gently simmer until hot. Remove the lime leaves.
• Test the soup for salt and spice, adding more fish sauce instead of salt, or more chiles as desired. If too sour, add 1/2 teaspoon sugar. If too spicy for your taste or if you'd like it creamier, add more coconut milk. If too salty, add another squeeze of lime juice.
• Serve in bowls with fresh coriander sprinkled over.

TOM KA KAI (THAI COCONUT CHICKEN SOUP)

Steps:

• In the bottom of a large soup pot, heat the oil over high heat until very hot but not smoking. I often make this is a wok on the stove.
• Salt the chicken and add to oil, tossing to brown all the pieces. Cook about 3 minutes or until outside is browned, but not necessarily cooked all the way through.
• Add mushrooms and toss. Allow to cook until some of the moisture is cooked out and the mushrooms are soft. Turn down heat to medium-low.
• To prepare the lemongrass, slice and mince the lower portion and reserve the stalk to flavor the soup. You can use a food processor for this, or just mince it by hand. The woody upper portion of the stalk will be removed later, so don't chop it up, simply score it by making a few superficial cuts in it to allow it to flavor the soup.
• Add the whites of the onions, reserving the greens. Add the minced lower portion of the lemongrass, grated galangal, and chilies. Toss until just warmed through.
• Add the lemongrass stalk, lime leaves, chicken stock, coconut milk, lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar and remaining onions, reserving just a few for garnish. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend well.
• Taste test and adjust flavors as follows:.
• Not salty enough - add more fish sauce.
• Too sour - add a little more brown sugar.
• Too spicy - add more coconut milk.
• Not spicy enough - add more chilies.
• Ladle into 4 soup bowls and garnish with remaining onion greens, cilantro, and basil.
• Variations:.
• Add more vegetables such as some sliced red bell peppers with the mushrooms.
• Serve over wide rice noodles for a main dish serving.
• Make vegetarian by increasing mushrooms in place of chicken and substituting vegetable stock.

TOM KA GAI (COCONUT CHICKEN SOUP)

Steps:

• Cut chicken into thin strips and saute in oil for to 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken turns white.
• In a pot, bring coconut milk and water to a boil. Reduce heat. Add ginger, fish sauce, lime juice, cayenne powder and turmeric. Simmer until the chicken is done, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle with scallions and fresh cilantro and serve steaming hot.