Authentic Tom Kha Gai – a simple delicious recipe for one of Thailand’s most popular soups! Full of fragrant Thai ingredients like lemongrass, kefir lime, ginger and galanga root, this Thai Coconut Chicken Soup can be made on the stove top on in an Instant Pot. Paleo, Gluten-free and Vegan adaptable!
I would say that there exist a thousand unbreakable links between each of us and everything else, and that our dignity and our chances are one. The farthest star and the mud at our feet are a family; and there is no decency or sense in honoring one thing, or a few things, and then closing the list. ~Mary Oliver
This authentic recipe for Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup) is full of amazing flavor and can be made quickly and easily on the stove top or in an Instant Pot pressure cooker.
What makes this Tom Kha Gai recipe truly authentic is the use of galangal root. So yes, it does require a trip to the Asian Market, but trust me when I tell you, you’ll love yourself for it. So will your family. And what is nice is, you can buy extra galangal root and kefir lime leaves and freeze them for future use, because I promise you’ll want to make this soup again. Soon!
The rich and fragrant coconut broth is especially comforting when feeling under the weather.
Galangal root (also called galanga) looks very much like ginger but tastes very very different. It has an exotic pine flavor, that in my opinion, totally makes the soup. In fact, the word “Kha” translates to galangal. Gai translates to “chicken, and Tom means “cooked”. Chicken cooked with galangal. So don’t make the soup, until you have time to go to the Asian Market. Trust me. 😉
While you are there, pick up some kefir lime leaves, ginger and lemongrass. Both the galangal and the kefir lime leaves may be in the frozen section of the market. You may also find chopped frozen lemongrass, which I happen to love, because then there is always some on hand in the freezer.
While I haven’t made a vegan version of this yet, I know it is possible using tofu (or fried tofu) and this vegan fish sauce.
You’ll ned about a quarter cup of both galangal and ginger and just a heads up- you don’t need to peel the ginger or the galangal, just thinly slice.
Thai red chilies are a nice addition to the soup too, but you can also use chili paste.
Make the Tom Kha Gai in an Instant Pot with chicken breast or chicken thighs, or cook it more authentically on the stove top. Your choice!
The instant pot version is very quick and easy- just put it all in the pot and set.
When it’s done squeeze with lime and serve in bowls.
Tom Kha Gai – a warming Coconut Chicken soup that is full of amazing Thai flavor.
For more warming Thai Recipes…..take a peek at these !
PrintAuthentic Tom Kha Gai Soup
Learn how to make authentic Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup) with this simple delicious recipe. Can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stove top. Gluten-free and vegan adaptable!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
- Category: soup, gluten-free, vegan-adaptable
- Method: instant pot, stove top, pressure cooker
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
- 1 shallot, diced
- ¼ cup ginger, sliced into ⅛ inch thick disks, skins ok ( 2 inch piece)
- ¼ cup galangal root, sliced into ⅛ thick disks, skins ok ( 2 inch piece)
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped lemongrass- or use lemongrass paste.
- 8 kefir lime leaves
- 1 –2 cups chicken broth (see notes) or veggie broth
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken- whole breasts or thighs (or sub 1 pound crispy Tofu)
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms (button, shiitake, cremini) or sub other veggies like bell pepper, snow peas, etc.
- 2 cans coconut milk (full fat)
- 2–4 fresh Thai Chilies, or add chili paste to taste at the end
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce ( or sub vegan fish sauce)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
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- 4 tablespoons lime juice ( 1–2 limes)
- 2 teaspoons palm, coconut or brown sugar
Serve this on its own, over rice or rice noodles!
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Place everything in the instant pot- except lime juice, using 1 cup chicken broth and leaving the chicken breasts or thighs whole. Don’t forget the salt. 🙂
- If using chicken breasts, pressure cook on high pressure for 7 minutes, or 10 minutes for thighs. If using tofu, pressure cook 4 minutes.
- Naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Shred the chicken into bite sized pieces using two forks and add the sugar and lime juice. Taste- adjust salt, lime and spicy heat. Serve with a lime wedge.
Stove Top Cooking instructions:
- Slice the chicken into thin bitesized pieces ( across the grain) and season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- In large heavy bottom pot or dutch oven, saute shallot in a little oil over medium heat. Add ginger, lemongrass, lime leaves and galalagal and 2 cups broth and simmer gently for 5 minutes, letting the broth infuse. Add the chicken (or tofu) and mushrooms and gently poach, simmering for 3-4 minutes or until chicken is just cooked through. Stir in the coconut milk, fish sauce, chilies, and salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the lime juice and sugar. Taste. Adjust salt and lime and the spice level by adding more chili paste.
Notes
It may smell “fishy” at first, but after you add the lime juice, it will all balance and mellow out.
When making the stove top version, sometimes I’ll poach whole chicken breasts in the infused broth (covered) then shred with 2 forks- a little longer cooking time, but no pre-cutting required. Then add the remaining ingredients. 🙂
Boiling coconut milk too long will take some it’s lovely sweetness away, so don’t over boil it or over cook it, just simmer gently and not for too long. 🙂
To make a vegan version, sub veggie broth for the chicken broth. Add crispy tofu. ( Pan- sear cubes of tofu in a skillet, with olive oil, salt and pepper) Add other veggies if you like! Sub vegan fish sauce for regular fish sauce.
Feel free to serve over rice or rice noodles.
Keywords: instant pot tom kha gai, tom kha gai soup, tom aha recipe, authentic tom aha gai soup, vegan tom kha recipe,
This looks delicious and so colourful, I will definitely try to make this at home 🙂
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Added rice noodles, oyster mushrooms and bok choy—great rainy day, feel good soup!!
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Yum! sounds perfect! Thanks for sharing!
I just made this. Had to do some planning first to access the ingredients. I live in a rural area so good eating has to be done at home. Sylvia your Tom Kha Gai recipe is simply delicious.
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Hi Elle, Im sorry getting the ingredients was not super easy, but I wanted you guys to end up with a very authentic version. That is always the challenge. And Im so happy you liked it!!!
I love your site and your selection of foods! I made tis tonight. I wanted to make in my instant pot, however in reading in the notes you indicate extended temp/cooking time can affect the coconut milk flavor. For this reason, I made n the stove top. Wouldn’t 10 min in the instant pot under pressure have a negative affect on the final flavor of the coconut milk? Thank you for such a beautiful site!
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You know I thought it would, but seemed OK for some reason!Maybe because it’s holding all the liquid in, and not evaporating….
So flavorful and simple once you make a fun run to the Asian market! We used tofu and added some rice noodles and Thai basil at the end. Yummmmm!
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Just as good as the best Thai restaurants in town!
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Oh good! Glad you enjoyed!
Hi Sylvia,
I wanted to try some of your Thai recipes so I broke down and ordered some galangal and Kefir Lime leaves online. I’ve now stocked up my freezer. For the galangal I don’t know if that is the way they are but it was very hard. I had to get out my cleaver to cut some slices. Having said that the broth was exquisite. A hint of heat with the chili paste, lemongrass, and coconut milk makes a great combination. I served it over rice and have some leftovers for the week. . Looking forward to making this often.
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Hi Terry! Im so glad you tried this and were able to get the ingredients! Yes, Galanga is hard as a rock…but adds such a unique flavor, it can’t be substituted!
Beautiful and easy!
Made it yesterday evening; everybody loved it.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Hi Sandra! So happy you liked it!
i started making Thai food at home a few months ago. It made healthy eating so much more fun and tasty! I am in a small community a ferry boat ride West of Seattle but have a wonderful Asian market. I made this recipe and EVERYONE loves it! I made my own sweet chili sauce because I didn’t like the ingredients in store bought. I let people add that along with green onions and cilantro as condiments. I left the sugar and chili out of the recipe, (for those who don’t like heat.) I added greens, carrots and other veggies I needed to use up. Thank you for this!!I absolutely LOVE the recipe!!
Glad you liked this!
great
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Great recipe. I didn’t use the ginger because it really over takes the flavor of the galangal root. Also I used a cheese cloth to keep the roots and lime leaves together. Makes it easier to eat. And o find tomato’s taste rally good in it too.
Thanks for the recipe !
Great recipe. I didn’t use the ginger because it really over takes the flavor of the galangal root. Also I used a cheese cloth to keep the roots and lime leaves together. Makes it easier to eat. And o find tomato’s taste rally good in it too.
Thanks for the recipe !
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This recipe is very forgiving and comes out delicious EVERY SONGLE TIME!
Thank you!
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I had to come on here and say… That I just made this recipe, I had seconds and I am STUFFED! I was so shocked that after I opened the lid, the taste was so like the Tom kha gai from a Thai restaurant here, without adding anything else afterwards! I am so happy I found your recipe that chose to use the authentic ingredients. Substitutions will not do this soup justice. I. Am. Amazed. Thank you!!
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