Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (2024)

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Thai Coconut Milk Cabbage soup packed with flavor and nourishment! A Thai CoconutPaleosoup recipemade with realingredients; coconut milk, cabbage, lemongrass, broth, curry, and Thai Chili peppers. It is quick to make, plus it keeps you warm during winter!Vegan and whole 30 friendly.

Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (1)

Just letting you know thisThai Coconut cabbage soup recipewas originally published in December 2014. I retested and improved the recipe, rephotographed, updated content. Now I am republishing it for you today! I hope you enjoy. Thank you for following Cotter Crunch Y’all!.

Thisweek, the love of flavor packed recipes continues, in the form of soup that is! But let me explain what makes thisThai coconut soupthe perfectsoothing dishfor body and soul as well.Hang with me, I’ll get to it soon!

You see, when the body (or at least my body) is under a certain amount of stress, digestion needs a little more support. This is why it’s so important to focus on getting nutrient dense foods in the system, as well as taking a chill pill. Am I right?

But what nutrient foods work for me, might not work for you. So can be tricky. The body responds differently to certain foods for EACH person depending on the environment they are in or their current health condition. Hence why I posted the “healing foods” meal plan last week.

For us Crazy Cotters, immunity boosting smoothies, Turmericteas, and anti- inflammatory rich soups give us more bang for you buck, per se. Easy to digest, but still full of nourishment. Nourishment in the form of soothing herbs, vegetables, and spices! Adding in herbs and spices are also a great wayto significantly increase the nutritional value of your meals, plus many herbs and spices serve as digestive aids.

Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (2)
Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (3)

Hence my love affair with paleo thai coconut soup! It’s full of good for your healthmedicinal herbs like lemongrass, anti-inflammatory rich spices(like curry),antioxidant richpeppers, and healthy fats (like coconut milk), etc. Not to mention good for your digestion vegetables, like cabbage!

Adding cabbage brings extra nourishment and texture to this Thai Coconut Milk Soup!

Yep! Instead of grains (like rice), we are using shredded cabbage. Whoa I just said LIKE a lot. But you get my point. I LIKE what’s in this soup.

Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (4)

You can use red or green cabbage for this Thai soup. Both red and green cabbage are rich in mineralscalcium,magnesium, andpotassium. Three essential minerals that are crucial for protection of bones. As if that wasn’t enough, some studies have shown that cabbage may help improve the health of the stomach and digestive tract as a whole. You can thank the anti-inflammatory richglucosinolates found in cabbage for that (source). Oh and fiber, cabbage has tons of fiber, obviously.

Is that enough nerdy nutrition talk for ya? Ha! But gosh darn I love it when food can play a KEY part in healing and health.

Alright, now you know why I love this soothing soup and why I am sharing it AGAIN today, 3 years later. The recipe is retested and improved. HOORAY!

Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (5)

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Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (6)

Thai Coconut Milk Soup (Paleo)

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4.5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This nourishing Thai soup is quick to make with simple ingredients. Low Carb, Paleo, Whole30, and Vegan friendly.

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 1 Tablespoon oil, divided. (Avocado oil or sesame oil work great)
  • 2 to 3 cups shredded cabbage (red or green) – see notes.
  • 1 to 2 Tablespoon lime juice (divided)
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon red chili paste (the more, the spicier. Adjust to preference)
  • 2 stalks fresh lemongrass, cut in 1-in. pieces or 1.5 Tablespoons lemongrass paste. (see notes)
  • ½ teaspoon ground curry
  • 1-inch piece peeled fresh ginger or 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 ¾ cups regular or light coconut milk (15-ounce can)
  • 5 cups organic broth or vegetable stock
  • fine sea salt to taste
  • Fresh torn cilantro to garnish
  • Sliced lime
  • 2 Thai birds eyes red peppers, seeds in or removed, sliced for garnishing
  • Optional add ins: Cooked shrimp, chicken, tofu, sriracha, mushrooms, etc.
  • optional chopped scallions (green portion)

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, sauté your shredded cabbage in oil, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and dash of pepper. Cook about 2 minutes on medium to medium high. Be sure not to cook all the way. Remove cabbage from pot and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, bring to boil your broth, lemon grass, and the rest of your spices/chili paste. Let is simmer about 10 minutes on medium low, stirring occasionally.
  3. After 10 minutes, add in your sautéed cabbage, splash of fish sauce (optional), ½ tablespoon or so lime juice, and coconut milk. Mix together simmer another 5 to 10 minutes. (See notes for protein options)
  4. When soup is done simmering, you can either add your sliced Thai Red peppers into the pot before serving, or use them to garnish.
  5. Spoon into bowls. Garnish with fresh lime slices, spicy pepper slices (i.e jalapeños or additional Thai red peppers), drizzle of chili sauce, and pinch of pepper.Optional chopped scallions to top.

Notes

Substitutions – Thai basil may be substituted for cilantro. 2 fresh lemongrass stalk, cut in 1-in. pieces will equal around 1- 2 tablespoon lemon grass paste.

Add -ons – Protein is optional, but you can add in a cooked protein of choice (i.e shrimp, tofu, chicken, etc.) at step 6. When you mix in and simmer the coconut milk and cabbage.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: side dish, soup
  • Method: stove
  • Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 244
  • Sugar: 7.5g
  • Fat: 16g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.3g
  • Carbohydrates: 13g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (7)

Now let’s get get cooking! Your body and tastebuds will thank you.

What are your favorite type of vegetables to use in thai coconut soup?

MORE SOUP & IMMUNITY BOOSTING RECIPES HERE!

This recipe is part ofOur Best Healthy Soup Recipes for Falland 10 Best Immunity Boosting Recipes collections. Check it out!

Thai Coconut Milk Soup Recipe | Cotter Crunch (2024)

FAQs

Can you use coconut cream instead of coconut milk in curry? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

How to thicken tom kha? ›

Ingredients. N.B: you can add more soy, sugar, fish sauce or lime juice to your taste. Optional: - Want to thicken your soup mix 3 tsp of cornstarch w/ 8 tsp of water and mix well in the soup.

Can I use chickpeas to thicken soup? ›

A staple of South Asian and Greek cuisine, chickpea flour is an excellent thickener because it has a naturally creamy feel that adds a smooth yet rich texture to soups. You can also use regular chickpeas instead of the flour. Mash your cooked or canned chickpeas into a paste before adding them to your broth or soup.

How to thicken laksa soup? ›

You can try to mix in some flour or cornstarch. They both act as a thickening agent. Depending on how big your pot or skillet is, put 1 or 2 tbs of flour or cornstarch in a small bowl and mix it with about 2 tbs of water until it dissolves completely. Then dump it into your soup or sauce.

What happens if you use coconut cream instead of coconut milk? ›

Can You Replace Coconut Cream with Coconut Milk? The good news about coconut cream and coconut milk is that although they may be different consistencies, they're very similar. You can use coconut cream in place of milk if you dilute it with additional water. Different coconut cream brands vary on fat content.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of coconut milk in curry? ›

Cream. If dairy isn't a concern, heavy cream and half and half would also be a good replacement for coconut milk at a 1:1 ratio. Since coconut milk's fat content is between heavy cream and half and half, the consistency of your dish may be slightly thicker or thinner, depending on the replacement used.

What is the difference between Tom Kha and Tom Yum soup? ›

Tom Yum is much spicier, and has a clear broth. Tom Kha uses coconut milk to stabilize and mellow the flavors, making it both sweeter and slightly heavier. While both soups can be made with a variety of proteins, tom yum usually calls for shrimp, while tom kha is commonly made with chicken.

What makes Thai curry thick? ›

A curry may use exactly the same ingredients as a soup, but since those ingredients are finely ground into a paste, they become a part of the sauce. Even the lightest, most soup-like, water-based curry is going be slightly thicker than a soup because of the paste.

What does Tom mean in Thai? ›

The Thai word for “boil” or tom (pronounced “dtome”) features prominently on Thai menus and tom yum goong is probably one of the most famous Thai dishes in the world.

What is the healthiest thickening agent? ›

Easy-to-access alternatives are wheat flour, arrowroot flour, and rice flour. These are good alternatives to cornstarch because they are more nutritious and contain fewer carbohydrates and calories. Xanthan and guar gum are much stronger thickeners than cornstarch, but they can be harder to obtain and use.

What is the most common thickener for soups? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How to thicken soup with coconut milk? ›

Full-Fat Coconut Milk

A can of coconut milk will add liquid to the pot, but it's a richer, thicker liquid than the broth, which helps to give it more body. You can also scoop out the solidified fat from the top of the can and mix that in for more flavor.

How do you thicken Thai coconut soup? ›

Best way to thicken is is to grate a potato or two in there. Potato is delicious in curries and adds creaminess naturally. I also like to turn some dry coconut flakes to powder using a coffee grinder and add it in. It intensifies the coconut flavor and thickens at the same time.

Does coconut milk thicken curry? ›

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

What to do if soup is too watery? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice. ...
  7. 5 of the best soup recipes to try next:

What is the best substitute for coconut milk in curry? ›

8 best substitutes for coconut milk
  • Shredded coconut (and a blender)
  • Coconut cream.
  • Plant-based milk and coconut oil.
  • Coconut water and plant-based milk.
  • Coconut cream.
  • Milk or plant-based milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Heavy cream or half-and-half.
Dec 30, 2022

How to use coconut cream for curry? ›

Coconut cream is usually added at the end of cooking, when other ingredients have already been simmered together. This ensures that the coconut cream doesn't curdle or separate from the rest of the curry.

Can I use coconut cream in Thai curry? ›

Coconut milk would work fine in this recipe, if you just adjust the amount of water based on the consistency you want for the sauce. But if you can find it, coconut cream will make this REALLY delicious.

Does Thai curry use coconut cream or milk? ›

The majority of Thai curries are made with coconut milk as the main liquid, which produces creamier curries, but they're not necessarily “rich.” The amount of coconut milk can vary by quite a lot, depending on the texture one is looking for: massaman curry, for example, is quite rich because it uses coconut milk and is ...

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