Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe (2024)

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posted by Amy Johnsonon January 5, 2022 42 comments »

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This Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe is one of our favorites, and it’s quick and easy enough to make any night of the week. Ginger, lemongrass, coconut milk, and a bit of pepper mingled together are some of the ingredients you’ll need to create this flavorful Thai-inspired Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe.

There’s a local fantastic sushi /hibachi/Thai restaurant that we enjoy from time to time. It’s a great little spot for lunch or dinner. Often we order a bowl of coconut soup with shrimp, which reminds me of my version of Coconut Chicken Soup (sometimes known as Tom Kha Gai). I really like making soups and chilis any time of the year, and this one is a real winner.

Coconut Chicken Soup is a flavorful soup made with a chicken stock and coconut milk base, along with ginger, lemongrass, a bit of pepper, sometimes mushrooms, and a smidgen of fish sauce. Just a smidgen. It’s what makes the flavors pop. Really. It’s the umami thing going on. Don’t skip the fish sauce. Don’t diss the fish sauce.

If you’re in a hurry, this easy Coconut Chicken Soupcan be cooked in about 30 minutes or let it linger on low. Soups like to linger. Lingering is a good thing.

A few more Coconut Chicken Soup recipe notes:

  • Fresh ginger is readily available in most grocery stores and relatively inexpensive too. You will find that fresh ginger is very different from the dried ground version, but if fresh is not an option, substitute 2 teaspoons of dried ginger and adjust to taste before serving. If using fresh ginger, and Asian Spider will work wonders to retrieve it.
  • On the other hand, Fresh lemongrass, can sometimes be hard to find. You can grow your own, hunt it down locally or online, or use a dried version for this recipe. I keep dried lemongrass on hand for this soup as well as for hot tea. It’s lovely. Fresh is best, but dried will do just fine.
  • Again, this recipe calls for fish sauce. Yes, it’s strong, but no one will ever know it’s in there unless you tell them. It really adds to the fullness of flavor. Remember to refrigerate after opening, and you’ll be prepared for your next batch of coconut milk soup.
  • Canned coconut milk is used for this recipe, NOT refrigerated coconut milk in a carton.

What is the difference between coconut milk in a can and a carton?

First of all, as mentioned before, for this soup recipe canned coconut milk is used. But what is the difference between coconut milk in a can versus a carton? The main difference is the coconut milk you find refrigerated in a carton has been very diluted with water and many other ingredients. Coconut milk in a carton is usually used as a beverage or adding to beverages. Many times it has a bunch of icky additional ingredients. Be mindful when shopping for coconut milk in a carton. On the other hand, canned coconut milk is concentrated coconut milk usually with the addition of a bit of water plus guar gum. Canned coconut is thicker and has more coconut flavor since it has not been so diluted. For that reason I prefer to use canned coconut in most recipes. One concern with canned coconut is to watch out for cans that use BPA. When possible look for canned coconut milk brands that do not use BPA.

More delicious soup recipes you will enjoy:

  • White Bean and Roasted Mushroom Soup
  • Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
  • Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
  • Chicken Detox Soup Recipe from A Spicy Perspective

Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe

Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe (5)

Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe

A Thai-inspired soup with wonderful flavor. It's quick and easy to make too.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1-inch piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced*
  • 1 tablespoon dried lemongrass
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
  • 6 cups chicken stock or broth
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound rotisserie/roasted chicken, shredded
  • 1 3/4 cups canned unsweetened coconut milk (about 1 13.5-ounce can)
  • 2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce**
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add ginger and lemon grass, stir to toast until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and stir for another 2 minutes.
  2. Add chicken stock, lime juice and pepper flakes; bring to a simmer and simmer for 8-10 minutes. If large pieces of ginger are going to bother you, hunt them down and remove (an Asian spider will help do the job, of course a slotted spoon works too).
  3. Add chicken and simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
  4. Whisk in coconut milk, fish sauce, and cilantro; lower heat and allow to mingle for about 10 minutes before serving. Salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Garnish as desired with chili oil, cilantro leaves and/or lime wedges.

Notes

*Fresh ginger is relatively inexpensive and so very different from dried, but if fresh is not an option, substitute 2 teaspoons of dried ginger, then adjust to taste before serving.

**This recipe calls for very little fish sauce. Yes, it’s strong but no one will ever know it’s in there unless you tell them. It really adds to the fullness of flavor. Remember to refrigerate after opening and you’ll be prepared for your next batch of coconut milk soup. OR soy sauce may be substituted.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Originally posted October 30, 2014.

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published on January 5, 2022

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Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe (9)

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42 comments on “Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe”

  1. Varun SharmaReply

    Lovely and delicious coconut chicken soup recipe, soup is good for the health.

  2. Anna StuartReply

    This is a delicious, mild soup. Are the aromatics are supposed to crisp up in the pan? Mine did. 🙁 I’m pretty sure I let the mushrooms cook too long trying to brown them when maybe they were only supposed to soften – thus keeping the aromatics from overcooking…? Can someone please let me know about whether the aromatics should be crispy in soup and whether or not the mushrooms should be browned. Thank you! The soup is still delicious and I’ll make it again!

  3. Anna SReply

    This is a wonderful recipe that my family loves and IF you have time, you should definitely try simmering a whole chicken, using the broth and chicken. It doesn’t take much longer and it’s definitely worth it with a much richer broth. I’ve made this 3 times in 4 months and it gets eaten fast by my family. And don’t skimp on the chili garlic sauce she adds. It’s sooo good. Thank you, Amy!

  4. NicoleReply

    Delicious and satisfying. I did sauté chicken thighs rather than use a rotisserie chicken but otherwise made as written. This one stays on my greatest hits list for soups.

  5. KeirstenReply

    I loved this recipe. I have stomach issues (acid reflux etc.) and this is so soothing to the stomach if you leave out the pepper flakes. I also added sweet potatoes, celery and onions to my batch and it’s to die for

  6. Sher SheppsReply

    Someone mentioned not skimping on the chile garlic sauce but I did not see that ingredient listed in the recipe anywhere. confused! I want to make this and we love spicy but what did I miss?

  7. WhitneyReply

    I made it with shrimp instead and very yummy! Thanks 😀

  8. LisaReply

    Delicious! Tastes just like the soup at the local Thai restaurant – or better (because it’s fresh made at home.) I’ll make this again. With the rotisserie chicken, it is quick and easy.

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Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is Coconut Soup good for you? ›

It's packed with healthy fats from coconut milk, protein from the chicken thighs, a punch of spicy flavor from red curry paste and some chili peppers, and the nutrition of numerous vegetables plus a lemongrass- and ginger-infused broth.

Why is Tom Kha so good? ›

Tom Kha is a traditional chicken and coconut soup from Thailand. The recipe calls for many delicious spices that give the soup its characteristic mix of hot, tart, and umami flavors. Tom Kha soup is perfect if you have blood sugar problems or want to lose weight. It is low in carbohydrates and yet very satisfying.

Can you boil coconut milk in soup? ›

Add one 13.5-ounce can of coconut milk, then fill the can with water and add that, too. Bring this to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat so that it simmers gently but steadily. Cover partially with your pot's lid and let cook until your vegetables are completely tender. I mean completely.

Why do you put lemon juice in chicken soup? ›

Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line. Like a vinaigrette on a salad, the pickle on a burger, and the sour cream in a coffee cake, a squeeze of lemon gives chicken soup a game-changing brightness.

Can too much coconut be bad for you? ›

Potential downsides. While coconut meat has multiple benefits, it may also have downsides. It contains a significant amount of saturated fat, which is highly controversial. A study in over 115,000 healthy adults found that high saturated fat intake was associated with an increased risk of heart disease ( 29 ).

What happens to your body when you eat coconut? ›

Coconuts are especially high in manganese, which is essential for bone health and the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and cholesterol ( 8 ). They're also rich in copper and iron, which help form red blood cells, as well as selenium, an important antioxidant that protects your cells ( 9 , 10 , 11 ).

What is the difference between Tom Yum soup and Tom Kha soup? ›

What is Tom Kah Gai? It's a spicy Thai coconut soup with galangal and chicken. Tom Kha is a creamy-spicy soup, made with coconut milk, whereas Tom Yum is a non-creamy, hot and sour soup, often containing prawns (shrimp).

What's the difference between Tom Kha and Tom Yum soup? ›

Tom Yum is much spicier, and has a clear broth. Tom Kha uses coconut milk to stabilize and mellow the flavors, making it both sweeter and slightly heavier. While both soups can be made with a variety of proteins, tom yum usually calls for shrimp, while tom kha is commonly made with chicken.

Is coconut milk in soup healthy? ›

Coconut milk may benefit health in several ways, such as by stimulating weight loss and lowering cholesterol. It can also add flavor to sweet and savory dishes and serve as an alternative to dairy milk. Coconut water is the liquid inside a coconut, while coconut milk comes from the fruit's white flesh.

How do you thicken coconut soup? ›

If you don't want to change the coconut-rich flavor, use coconut flour for thickening the same as you would wheat or other flour. Remove some stock from the pot, let it cool, mix into it until you have a slurry, then return the slurry to the pot while constantly stirring and bring to a boil until thickened.

How do you fix too much coconut milk in soup? ›

Dilute with other liquids: If you find the taste of coconut milk too strong, you can try diluting it with water, broth, or another type of milk. This will help to reduce the overall coconut flavor in the dish.

How do you get the coconut taste out of soup? ›

Dilute with water or other liquids: You can dilute the coconut milk by mixing it with water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth. This will reduce the overall coconut flavor in the dish.

Why do you put vinegar in chicken soup? ›

Whether it's white wine or vinegar, a touch of acid added to the simmering pot will create a richer finished product. That's because acid helps break down the cartilage and other connective tissues in the bones of the chicken, which helps speed up the formation of gelatin in the stock.

What brings out the flavor in chicken soup? ›

Here are a few ideas:
  1. Add a variety of herbs and spices to the broth - try adding some oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and cumin.
  2. Even better - add some garlic and onion for additional flavor.
  3. You can also throw in some veggies like carrots, celery, and potatoes for an added crunch.
Mar 5, 2023

Why do people rub lime on chicken? ›

Using lemon juice, lime juice or vinegar to wash off chicken and fish before cooking is a common practice in the West Indies/Caribbean. Before the invention of refrigerators, people applied an acidic solution because they thought it would kill any bacteria on the chicken, and also give a hint of extra flavor.

Is coconut soup good for your stomach? ›

Coconut, a low-carb fruit, is also full of dietary fibres that can help in promoting healthy digestion.

What is the healthiest soup? ›

6 delicious and healthy soups
  • Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
  • Green spring minestrone.
  • Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
  • Lamb shank and barley soup.
  • Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
  • Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
Apr 27, 2020

How many calories in a bowl of coconut soup? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
223Calories
18gFat
12gCarbs
7gProtein

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