Take a trip to Southeast Asia with this nutty, smoky, hot and sweet red coconut curry soup, which packs a pleasant medium heat. If you’re a fan of spicy food, this is the best curry recipe for you!
What is Red Coconut Curry Soup?
Red coconut curry soup is a complex Thai dish that combines the boldness of red chilies to the sweet and wholesome flavors of peanut butter and coconut. The result is a beautiful red soup with sweet and smoky notes of flavor.
I first fell in love with this dish at a little Cambodian restaurant in my hometown while I was a waitress in high school. After I got off work at my restaurant, I would walk to get la soupe Bangkok for myself and my mom, and it was our family favorite!
How to Cook Curry Soup:
The base of this rich (and filling) coconut curry soup is made by briefly frying Thai red curry paste, garlic, ginger, onion, a little sugar, fish sauce, cumin, peanut butter, and chopped coriander stems. Chicken broth and full-fat coconut milk are then added to create the most delicious, creamy, and fragrant broth you’ll ever create in your own kitchen.
The mixture is left to simmer until the broth reduces by about a third, so you are left with a thick, creamy soup that is served with rice vermicelli noodles, shredded iceberg lettuce, coriander leaves and a generous squeeze of lemon juice.
If you’re not sure where to find all of these ingredients, you can visit your local Asian market. They will have the full fat coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, and any other ingredients you may be missing to create this easy soup.
What is the History of Thai Red Coconut Curry Soup?
Curry first began as an Indian dish, as early as 2500 B.C. Over time, curry spread all over Asia, and many countries created their own versions. As Thai curry paste became distinct, curry became absolutely integral to the cuisine in Thailand, and Thai red curry soup is one of the ways it evolved over time.
What is the Difference Between Thai Curry and Indian Curry?
If you love Indian curry and have never tried Thai curry, you might wonder what the differences are. While these foods are both delicious and rich in flavor, they are two extremely different dishes.
First of all, Indian curry is usually cream-based, whereas this Thai curry uses coconut milk. Thai curry, which is more like a hot soup, starts off with green, yellow, or red curry paste, which is then mixed with fresh ingredients and coconut milk to create more of a soup. Indian curry is created with dry spices and is a much thicker consistency due to the cream or ghee and longer cook times.
This is my favorite soup, I don’t even know how many times I’ve enjoyed it over the past year with my family. It’s also a really easy recipe to double, so you can have this meal multiple times a week! You can make the broth ahead of time and refrigerate it in an airtight container until it’s time to eat.
If you’re reusing the broth, however, the rice noodles take about 7-9 minutes to soak in hot water (just follow the package instructions), so it’s better to make them right before adding to the soup for a fresher and firmer texture.
Is Red Curry Soup Healthy?
Yes! Thai coconut curry soup is made out of fresh vegetables and coconut milk, and it can be prepared to match any diet, like Whole30, keto, or a low carb diet. As long as the curry base, chicken broth, and coconut milk you choose are compliant with your diet, this red curry soup will make an excellent addition to your schedule. The best part is, this soup in and of itself is a complete meal!
If you like this coconut curry soup, here are other recipes you might enjoy:
Drunken Noodles – Pad Kee Mao
Pad Woon Sen (Thai Glass Noodle Stir Fry)
Miso Kimchi Ramen
Basic Udon Soup (Kake Udon)
Did you like thisRed Coconut Curry Soup Recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share?Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!
Red Coconut Curry Soup
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
- Author: Caroline Phelps
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 people 1x
- Category: Soups
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Thai
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Description
Take a trip to Southeast Asia with this hot, smoky, sour and sweet red coconut curry soup. This is one amazing noodle soup you won’t be able to put down!
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 thumb size ginger (peeled and minced)
- 3 tablespoons coriander stems (finely chopped)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 3 tablespoons red curry paste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 3 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup lite coconut milk
- 100 grams dry rice noodles
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- lemon wedges for serving
- handful fresh coriander leaves
Instructions
- In a medium size pot over high heat, add oil, garlic, ginger, coriander stems and onion, and fry for 4-5 minutes, until onions are translucent.
- Add curry paste, cumin, sugar and peanut butter and stir well until well blended.
- Add fish sauce, chicken stock and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes – or until the soup has reduced by about a third (you can cook it for an additional 10 minutes if you like a stronger broth).
- Meanwhile soak the rice noodles in hot water for 10 minutes, or according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
- Divide the broth among two bowls and add a slice of lemon. Add rice noodles and shredded lettuce. Top with fresh coriander leaves and serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 7.8 g
- Sodium: 1454.8 mg
- Fat: 14.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 38.1 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 6.3 mg
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