Thai-Style Chicken Soup with Basil

Ingredients for Thai-Style Chicken Soup with Basil

• 2 fresh lemongrass stalks, root end trimmed and 1 or 2 outer layers discarded

• 2 large shallots, thinly sliced

• 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1.9L rich and flavorful chicken stock

• 1 or 2 outer layers discarded

• 1 (400g) can diced tomatoes in juice, drained, reserving juice

• 60g tamarind from a pliable block (a 2-inch cube), chopped

• 45ml Asian fish sauce

• 2 (2-inch-long) fresh Thai chillies, thinly sliced

• 2 fresh or frozen Kaffir lime leaves

• 1 (2-inch) piece peeled ginger, thinly sliced

• 450g skinless boneless chicken breast

• 110g snow peas, sliced 1/4 inch thick

• 1/3 cup packed basil leaves (preferably Thai)

• Accompaniment: cooked jasmine rice

How to make Thai-Style Chicken Soup with Basil

Cut off and discard top of lemongrass, leaving 6-inch stalks, then finely chop. Cook lemongrass, shallots, and garlic in oil in a large heavy pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 12 to 15 minutes.

Add stock, reserved tomato juice, tamarind, fish sauce, chillies, lime leaves, and ginger and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes.

While soup simmers, freeze chicken breast just until slightly firm, 20 to 30 minutes, then thinly slice crosswise.

Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large saucepan, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. Return to a simmer and stir in chicken, diced tomatoes, snow peas, and basil. Gently simmer just until chicken is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with additional fish sauce and salt.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.