Hen Galangal Soup Recipe, a Nice Introduction to Thai Residence Cooking
For 5 years, I’ve been sharing my culinary adventures from across the globe, bringing the flavors of my favourite locations to your private home kitchens via my movies, The Eating Traveler Cooking Sequence. To have fun this milestone, I’m kicking off a brand new sequence of simple, globally-inspired recipes that anybody could make. And what higher approach to begin than with a dish that transports me straight again to one in all my most beloved locations: Thailand. Be part of me as we create a aromatic and comforting Hen Galangal Soup (Tom Kha Gai), an genuine style of Siam.
What’s Hen Galangal Soup
Hen Galangal soup, a creamy, coconut-milk-based soup, is a wonderful mixture of flavors: candy, bitter, spicy, and savory, all working collectively in good concord. It’s wealthy and satisfying but surprisingly mild and refreshing. It’s splendid for a cold night or everytime you crave a little bit spice in your life. And one of the best half? It’s extremely simple to make! In nearly half-hour, and with lower than $20 price of components, you’ll be able to have a style of Thailand in your desk.
My love affair with Thai delicacies started years in the past after I first visited in 2003 after I labored as a younger Marine Officer on a two-month stint within the nation. I used to be enthralled by the spices, colours, and flavors as they had been too totally different from what I grew up with. Though I’ve visited Thailand a number of occasions, it wasn’t till 2024 that I had a correct Thai cooking class. I had the unimaginable alternative to deepen my understanding of its nuances throughout a go to to the Anantara Golden Triangle Camp and Resort in Chiang Rai. This beautiful resort, full with an elephant sanctuary, additionally boasts a improbable cooking faculty. Think about studying the secrets and techniques of genuine Thai dishes with elephants roaming within the background! I discovered to make this Hen Galangal Soup at their cooking faculty, surrounded by lush gardens and the sounds of nature. My journey to the Golden Triangle was one in all my most memorable journey experiences thus far, the place I can mix my love for meals and tradition.
What’s Galangal?
One of many stars of this soup, and a cornerstone of Thai delicacies, is galangal. Usually mistaken for ginger, galangal is a rhizome in the identical household however with a definite taste profile. Whereas each share a barely gingery be aware, galangal is extra citrusy, earthy, and subtly peppery. It lacks ginger’s intense spiciness, providing a extra delicate and sophisticated aroma that provides a singular perfume to Thai dishes. Consider it as ginger’s extra refined cousin. Galangal can be a key ingredient in lots of Thai curry pastes, lending its distinctive character to those flavorful blends. You’ll be able to sometimes discover contemporary galangal in Asian supermarkets, usually within the contemporary produce part. When you can’t discover contemporary galangal, verify the frozen part – it freezes superbly and retains its taste.

Creating Your Hen Galangal Soup
We’ll begin by constructing a flavorful base with hen inventory, bringing it to a boil, after which infusing it with fragrant components. Galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai chilies create a aromatic basis for the soup. The coconut milk provides richness and creaminess, whereas tender hen breast and mushrooms present substance. Lastly, fish sauce, tamarind juice, and contemporary lime juice stability the flavors, creating that signature Thai sweet-sour-salty style.
Easy methods to Plate the Soup
As soon as your soup is prepared, garnish it with contemporary cilantro and a drizzle of chili oil for an additional contact of taste and warmth. The aroma alone will transport you to a bustling Thai market, and the primary style shall be a beautiful expertise. Cooking Thai meals at residence additionally lets you stability the spiciness to your liking. When you’re serving to a bunch with blended spice ranges, go low on the Thai chilies and serve additional chili oil to those that need extra spice. Making Hen Galangal Soup takes me again to the colourful flavors of Thailand with out leaving your kitchen. My eight-year-old daughter additionally loves it, so it’s a terrific recipe to introduce children to Thai flavors. So, collect your components, activate some music, and get cooking!
When you love this soup, you’ll love our Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup.

2 massive hen breasts
2 cups hen inventory
2 1/2 cups coconut milk
2-inch piece galangal, thinly sliced
1 cup Angel mushrooms, or any kind of brown mushrroms (minimize the bottoms)
2-3 Thai chilies, sliced
3 stalks lemongrass, bruised and roughly chopped
10 Kaffir lime leaves, crushed
1/4 cup fish sauce
Juice of two Limes
1/3 cup tamarind juice
1 sprig of coriander leaves (Cilantro)
1/2 tsp chilli oil (or to style)
1. Deliver the hen inventory to a boil over medium warmth then add the sliced galangal, lemongrass
2. Put together the hen by eradicating the pores and skin and chopping the meat into diagonal bite-sized items.
and kaffir lime leaves, when it turns into aromatic add coconut milk and proceed to boil for just a few
minutes.
3. Add the hen and mushrooms. Simmer till the hen is cooked.
4. Lastly, add the crushed chilies, fish sauce, tamarind, and lime juice then stir until mixed utterly.
5. Place the soup into the coconut shell and garnish with coriander leaves, crispy fried chilies, and chili oil.
- Prep Time: 10
- Prepare dinner Time: 20
- Class: Soups
- Delicacies: Thai
- Food plan: Gluten Free
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