Thai Chicken Lemongrass Soup

By á-1046

Ingredients

• 4 cups chicken stock
• 3 kaffir lime leaves, fresh or dried, hand torn
• 2 small Thai chiles, halved lengthwise
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• One 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into 4 chunks
• 1 stalk lemongrass (white part only), cracked open with the flat side of a knife
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• One 13-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce ( nam pla)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• Juice of 4 limes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and lime wedges, for garnish
• Jasmine rice, cooked

Preparation

Step 1

Bring the stock to a boil over medium heat in a soup pot. In a strainer, add the lime leaves, chiles, garlic, ginger and lemongrass. Lower the heat to medium-low; cover the pot and gently simmer to let the spices infuse the broth, about 10 minutes. Pull out "infusing" ingredients.

Uncover the pot and stir in the chicken, coconut milk, fish sauce, sugar and lime juice. Simmer to heat the chicken through, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place jasmine rice in the bottom of soup bowls. Ladle the soup on top. Garnish with the cilantro and lime wedges.

Cook's Note: Lemongrass imparts a delicate citrusy flavor and aroma, but if you can't find lemongrass, use equal parts lemon peel and ginger. Kaffir lime is gently limey with lots of aroma, but you can substitute lime peel if you can't find it.