12 February 2012

Chicken and Coconut Broth



This one is another "just had to cook" from the South East Asian Street Food class at Cook the Books.  This has all those classic Thai flavours that work so well together,,,hot sweet sour all wrapped up in rich creamy coconut. Perfect as part of an Thai inspired feast or meal in itself.


It really is too good not to share so without further ado here it is...


Coconut and Chicken Broth, from South East Asian Street Food at Cook the Books


Serves 6 as part of a main meal.


Ingredients


3 cups chicken stock
3 cups coconut milk*
Thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and cut in to slivers
2 stalks lemon grass, bashed 
2 red chilli, sliced, feel free to de-seed if you are not a fan of heat.  However, would recommend you do include as a little heat works wonders in this soup.
6 kaffir lime leaves, whole**
2 cloves garlic, crushed
175g Asian mushrooms**
2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/3 cup lime juice***
2 tsp coconut**** or brown sugar
Handful of coriander, roughly chopped
2 kaffir lime leaves, shredded in to thin slivers
Optional - 1 red chilli, sliced




*I used light coconut milk which is still delicious. However for off the chart deliciousness and richness stay away from light!
**You will be able to get these at any good Asian supermarket
***Lime are seriously expensive at the moment so you can substitute with a good store bought lime juice.  If you are in NZ Cook the Books recommend Country Gold Lime Juice which is 99.9% lime juice.
****I have just discovered coconut sugar which can replace any brown sugar 1:1.  It is a mineral rich, low GI (35) cane sugar alternative, produced from coconut palm blossoms. It has a rich toffee like flavour and compared to brown sugar it has twice the iron, four times the magnesium and over 10 times the zinc. 




Directions


Place the chicken stock, coconut milk, ginger, lemongrass, chilli and 6 of the kaffir lime leaves in to a large saucepan.  Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes to allow all the flavours to infuse.




Add the mushroom and the chicken.  Cook for 5 minutes until they are cooked through and then add the fish sauce, lime juice and sugar.  Taste for seasoning and adjust to suit with a little more fish sauce, lime juice or sugar.




Discard the whole kaffir lime leaves and stalks of lemongrass.  For easy serving scoop out some chicken and mushrooms in to bowls and then ladle over the broth.  Top with fresh coriander and the slivered kaffir lime.  I also added a few slices of chilli for a little splash of colour and a little more heat.






This soup is, well amazing!  OK that is not the best description! For me it is like traditional tom yum soup, which I adore, taken to the next level with the addition of the coconut milk, which I also love.  So if you like hot spicy, fragrant soups then this is one for you.


Rich and creamy, fragrant and aromatic, spicy with a little sour. The coconut adds a wonderful sweetness and richness that works so well with the heat of chillies. The distinctive pungent flavour of the kaffir limes comes through along with  a sour hit form the fish sauce and limes to deliver that uniquely Thai flavour combination.




If you love cook books or want some cooking inspiration...

Cook The Books

139 Richmond Road (corner Norfolk St)
Grey Lynn,
Auckland,
New Zealand
www.cookthebooks.co.nz
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK:
Monday to Friday – 10am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday – 10am to 4pm



If you like this you might like this Prawn and Coconut Rice Paper Rolls
One Year Ago Decadent Chocolate Truffles


Enjoy!









9 comments:

  1. I know someone who would just love your chicken and coconut broth - loves mushrooms and coconut !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes you would love it! You should give it a go next time Mum is in Edinburgh :)

      Delete
  2. How gorgeous! I love those Thai flavours of lemongrass, ginger, lime, chilli, with coconut. So refreshing and tasty. Mushrooms are a nice addition!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jemma, yes all those thai flavours are just delicious :)

      Delete
  3. I so want to find some coconut sugar! Sounds amazing. I love the sound of this soup, the kind of flavours I could eat all day long. And LOVE Cook the Books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I reckon you would be a fan of coconut sugar....I think it is even good for you!

      Delete
  4. I adore this soup, Mair - all the flavours I love. Need to hunt down some of that coconut sugar.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sue, really all credit goes to Cook the Books & it would have been very selfish not to share it!

      Delete
  5. Wow - this looks amazing, I can imagine the refreshing taste from all those ingredients. Thing I might treat myself when his lordship is away next time.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...