Thai Coconut Curry Soup Bowl (Printable Version)

Fragrant soup with tender chicken, mushrooms, and vegetables in creamy red curry coconut broth.

# Ingredient List:

→ Protein

01 - 14 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, thinly sliced

→ Vegetables

02 - 7 oz mushrooms, sliced (shiitake or button)
03 - 2 medium carrots, julienned or thinly sliced
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 3.5 oz baby spinach or bok choy, optional
06 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

→ Aromatics

07 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised and cut into 2-inch pieces, optional
10 - 4 kaffir lime leaves, optional

→ Broth

11 - 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
12 - 3⅓ cups coconut milk, full fat or light
13 - 2 cups chicken broth
14 - 1 tablespoon fish sauce
15 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
16 - 1 lime, juiced

→ Garnishes

17 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - Fresh red chili, sliced, optional
19 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Heat large pot over medium heat. Add splash of oil and sauté ginger, garlic, and lemongrass for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in red curry paste and cook for 1 minute to release flavors.
02 - Add chicken slices and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring to coat evenly with curry paste.
03 - Pour in coconut milk and chicken broth. Add kaffir lime leaves if using, followed by carrots, mushrooms, and red bell pepper.
04 - Bring to gentle simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
05 - Stir in fish sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Add baby spinach or bok choy if using and simmer for 1-2 minutes until wilted.
07 - Remove lemongrass stalks and kaffir lime leaves. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with spring onions, cilantro, fresh chili, and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore and more like self-care.
  • The broth is so deeply flavored that you'll find yourself ladling up extra servings just to taste it again.
  • There's just enough spice to wake you up without being aggressive, and you can dial it up or down based on your mood.
02 -
  • Don't skip blooming the curry paste in the hot oil—this one step determines whether your soup tastes flat or vibrant.
  • The soup continues to develop flavor as it sits, so if you make it ahead, it's actually better the next day.
03 -
  • Toast your curry paste in the oil for a full minute—this small step makes an enormous difference in depth and prevents that raw-paste taste.
  • Taste the broth before you finish cooking so you know exactly what you're working with; every curry paste brand is different, and this prevents surprises.
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