Chicken and coconut cream soup (tom kha gai, gai dom kha or tom khaa kai)

November 19, 2009 • Hello. I am currently out of the country and unable to respond to comments and e-mails. Rest assured, however, that future posts have been scheduled so new recipes will go live almost everyday during my absence. I'll be back soon with lots of stories and photos. Ciao for now! ~ Connie

A chicken soup with coconut cream that is known alternatively as tom kha gai, gai dom kha or tom khaa kai. The recipes vary but they all for the same Thai chicken soup with coconut cream, lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves. I tried it at a Thai restaurant last weekend, bought a Thai cookbook and made the soup last night with a few modifications of the cookbook recipe.

Thai chicken soup with coconut cream

Thai food is wonderful, if you haven’t tried it, and I am really, really smitten. The same cooking techniques as most of Southeast Asia but the dishes have a more piquant flavor from aromatics like lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves, all of which you will find in most Thai dishes.

This recipe makes enough soup for 6 to 8 people.

Ingredients :

* 8 to 10 boneless chicken thighs, about 800 grams
* 1 tsp. of salt
* 2 heaping tsps. of galangal
* 3 stalks of lemongrass
* kaffir lime leaves (they come in pairs; I used three pairs)
* 3 finger chilis (I used the picante variety)
* 8 to 10 c. of chicken broth, preferably home made
* fish sauce, to taste
* juice of one lime (you can substitute lemon — it’s not the same but lime is not easy to find)
* 2 c. of coconut cream (see entry on how to extract coconut cream)
* 2 to 3 tbsps. of vegetable cooking oil

Please refer to the linked articles for more details about the ingredients. Click on the first thumbnail below to start viewing the cooking procedure.

Updated on July 10. 2009

November 6, 2008  Print This Post   
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Comments

10 Responses to “Chicken and coconut cream soup (tom kha gai, gai dom kha or tom khaa kai)”
  1. mella says:
    November 6, 2008 at 3:22 am

    i discovered thai food a few months ago. i didn’t like it at first because there’s just to much chili on it, nakakapasong anghang talaga! I always forget to tell the waiter to ask the cook not to put any chili on my food. But now i always make it a point to remind the waiter, im now loving thai food specially manggo salad, minced chicken with basil.

    Reply
  2. solraya says:
    November 6, 2008 at 6:41 am

    The step by step with photos is greatly helpful :)

    Reply
  3. Connie says:
    November 6, 2008 at 7:51 am

    Mella, that’s the beauty of home-cooking. Even the spiciness can be adjusted. :)

    Solraya, I have a new camera accessory that makes the step-by-step photos easier to take. No more tripod. Flash diffuser na lang hehehe

    Reply
  4. shella says:
    November 6, 2008 at 8:25 am

    hi connie, where do you get your kaffir lime? thanks.

    Reply
  5. Connie says:
    November 6, 2008 at 8:53 am

    I have a small kaffir lime tree in the garden. :)

    Reply
  6. mareza says:
    November 6, 2008 at 8:57 am

    three years ago we were in Thailand for two
    weeks and had the chance to join cooking class
    and of course eat thai food,the best. We got the chance to come back this Dec for an Asian tour
    including Manila,Malaysia,Singapore,japan and of course Thailand.I will make sure to get more
    cooking class and cook books. food is always
    the best part of the trip. thai food here in our
    place is americanize but i really don’t have time to cook, but i enjoy reading my cook books.

    Reply
  7. Rey M. S. says:
    November 6, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    is it just OK if the kaffir lime leaf is omitted?

    Reply
  8. Connie says:
    November 6, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    I don’t know how much flavor will be lost, Rey.

    Reply
  9. Maruh Bordage says:
    November 6, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    hmmm.. look so yummy! i will definitely try this one for tonight i actually have fresh galangal in our fridge but my only prob i only have dried kaffrir leaves in my kitchen
    thanks for the recipes! bon appetit!!

    Reply
  10. Al says:
    November 9, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Again, step by step pictures FTW!! :)

    thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
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