I love recipes that expand my horizons. This Spicy Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup from Jackie Dodd, for example, is not something that I would normally make on my own. But her recipe looked to enticing that I had to give it a try. Plus there’s a grocery store near me that offers up things like lemongrass and Thai chili, and that sealed the deal.
You’ll need: shrimp, chicken stock, basil, Thai chili, coconut milk, lemon, lemongrass, butter, ginger, garlic, and fish sauce.
Start by removing the outer layers of the lemon grass and slicing it.
Melt some butter or oil or margarine in a pot until it bubbles.
Next slice your chiles. These are green chiles because that is what I could find but Jackie suggests red chiles which are equally wonderful, I’m sure. Depending on your tolerance for heat, you’ll probably want to remove the seeds from these before chopping and adding them to the pot. And be sure not to touch your eyes for a long while afterward and give your hands a good wash. Since I love things super spicy, I left the seeds in. I was testing fate.
Saute it all together in the butter.
Then mince your garlic and ginger. You could leave the garlic a little chunky if you want as well, it adds some texture.
Saute that for a few minutes as well.
Next pour in the stock and simmer for a few minutes.
Then add the coconut milk and simmer for a few minutes more.
Then squeeze a bit of lemon juice for some tang. You can also add some fish sauce here if you’d like. I skipped that step but it would add another dimension of flavor.
Toward the end you’ll add the basil. Tear it up into various sized pieces.
Toss it in and let it stew for a few minutes.
Then toss in the peeled rinsed shrimp.
They will only need a few minutes to cook. In fact, you can turn off the heat shortly after you put them in and let the flavors meld as the shrimp finishes cooking.
This is a magical soup. It is so quick to make and it is refreshing to work with these light and tangy flavors. Thanks so much to Jackie for this recipe! Be sure to check out her website, Domestic Fits, for other delicious concoctions.
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Description
A warm and delicious soup that is full of immune boosters to help you get through the winter.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Smart Balance Light Margarine
- 2 teaspoons Chopped Thai Red Chili, Seeds Removed
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemongrass, Chopped
- 6 cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1 Tablespoon Ginger, Peeled And Minced
- 5 cups Fat Free, Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- 2 cans (13.5 Oz. Size) Light Coconut Milk
- 3 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 8 whole Basil Leaves, Chopped Into Ribbons
- 16 whole Large Shrimp, Raw, Peeled And Deveined, Tails Off (can Substitute 1 Cup, Chopped Raw Chicken)
Preparation Instructions
In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt the margarine. Add the chili and the lemongrass and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and the ginger. Stir frequently until you can smell the garlic, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and coconut milk and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients and cook until the shrimp is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning to your personal preference.
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There’s so much to say about Georgia, we don’t know where to start. Leaving Wall Street for the French Culinary Institute, followed by a stint at the Gramercy Tavern and La Chassagnette in France, her passion for food and food traditions are evident and inspiring. Visit her site at Georgia Pellegrini, where you’ll find more recipes, photos, learn all about her wonderful books Girl Hunter and Food Heroes, and enjoy her latest adventures.
16 Comments
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janie on 1.29.2012
I am fortunate enough to have a Thai restaurant owner/cook as my bestie! She makes the most fragrant and wonderful Tom Ka Gai soup. In other words, she uses chicken. She also adds button mushrooms. She will not share her recipe, so this may be what I will try instead. It looks so warm and comforting However, I too, stay away from margarine. I’d rather use butter Thank you for sharing such lovely recipes and pics!
Elise on 1.28.2012
looks really good
http://inthekitchenwithelise.blogspot.com
Tony on 1.27.2012
This recipe is right up my alley. As is this…
http://tiny.cc/r8p9s
terri on 1.27.2012
You can get lemon grass and Thai chili in a grocery store near the farm? God bless America!
Lauren on 1.27.2012
Sorry but this sounds horrible and is NOT Thai food! Margarine should not be used ever, in any type of cooking. Fat free chicken broth…what??? If you’re looking to make Tom Kha soup you need galangal and lime juice, not lemon.
Urban Wife on 1.26.2012
Thai food is one of our favorites! This dish will be making an appearance at our dinner table soon.
Charlotte Knox on 1.26.2012
I just made this soup and cannot get enough of it. Thought that I had some shrimp and when it came time to put it in the soup, I discovered it was not available. I used a tilapia filet instead. It worked beautifully.
Cheryl on 1.26.2012
I actually made this for dinner last night because it sounded so appealing. It was really, really good. I used some rotisserie chicken instead of the shrimp, and kept the lemongrass and ginger in large chunks, rather than chopping them, just left the broth simmering longer to infuse their flavor into the broth. I will most definitely make this again and again.
Gretchen on 1.26.2012
Suggestion for cleaning seeds from peppers-wear disposable gloves. Started doing this after an episode of thinking I was going to be blind after trying to put in contact lenses despite multiple hand washings.
Neha on 1.26.2012
Can you substitute the chicken stock for veg. stock? I would love to make this for my non- meat eating mother!!
Zee on 1.26.2012
Looks great! though I am not a big fan of raw coconut but this soup looks amazing
Faithdoc on 1.25.2012
I fell in love with Thai coconut soup about 25 years ago after having it for the first time in Houston TX. Now I make it regularly for my hubbie and 2 girls, they LOOOVE it. But I highly recommend that you USE THE FISH SAUCE.. I think the flavor that it adds is more complex and so delicious, its just not the same soup without it.
Tulip's Mom on 1.25.2012
For the novice cooking Thai food: it’s not smart to hang your head over that vat of cooking chilies — especially not smart to inhale through your mouth. The heat of real Thai chilies can literally take away your breath. And don’t touch your contact lenses, the baby’s bottom or any (ahem) part of your body until you’ve scrubbed the chili oil off your hands.
Allyn on 1.25.2012
Pretty sure this is going to be dinner tonight. Hello, lover!
Heather (Heather's Dish) on 1.25.2012
this is so beautiful and i can only imagine incredibly delicious!
Tabitha (From Single to Married) on 1.25.2012
I love how different this is from traditional soups – I’m interested to try it!