Tom Kha Soup (Vegetarian Thai coconut milk soup)

Tom kha Soup (Vegetarian Thai coconut milk soup)

Tom kha soup is one of the most commonly served Thai vegetarian soup. This soup is very nutritious and flavorful. It has galangal and lemongrass as main ingredients which has great medicinal values too.

Ingredients:

Approx. 5 servings

Coconut milk ? 2 cups
Vegetable stock ? 3 cups
Lemongrass ? 3 stalks, cut into 1″ pieces
Galangal –  2 inch root, thinly sliced

Note: ginger can be substituted as galangal, but the flavors are different.
Green chilies – 2 finely chopped
Sweet onion ? 1 medium, cubed
Tomato ? 1 boiled, peeled and cubed
Mushrooms? 1 cup sliced
Bamboo shoots ? 1/2 cup sliced
Baby corns -1/2 cup cut in halves
Bean sprouts ? 1/2 cup
Water chestnuts ? 1/2 cup sliced
Lime juice ? 3 tbsp
Soy sauce ? 2  tbsp
Cilantro ? 1/4 cup chopped
Sugar ? 1 tbsp
Black pepper ? 2 tsp
Cooking oil ? 1 tbsp
Salt as per taste (Soy sauce has some salt too)

Method:

In a big pot, add vegetable stock and coconut milk and boil.
Add lemongrass, galangal, chilies, sugar and pepper.
In a pan, heat oil. On high heat, Sauté all the vegetables for couple of minutes except bean sprouts.
Add these vegetables to the coconut milk pot and keep boiling for 5 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat.
Add bean sprouts.
Add lime juice, soy sauce and salt. Stir well.
Soup is ready to be served.

Garnish and serving Suggestions:

Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and chilies. Serve hot before meal.