Tom Yum Chicken (Print Version)

Aromatic Thai-style soup with tender chicken in a spicy, citrusy broth infused with lemongrass, galangal, and fresh herbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 14 oz boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, thinly sliced

→ Broth

02 - 5 cups chicken stock
03 - 2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and smashed
04 - 4 slices fresh galangal, approximately 0.4 oz, or 2 teaspoons dried galangal
05 - 5 makrut lime leaves, torn into pieces
06 - 4 birds eye chilies, lightly crushed

→ Vegetables and Aromatics

07 - 5.3 oz mushrooms, sliced
08 - 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
09 - 1 small onion, sliced
10 - 3 cloves garlic, smashed

→ Seasonings

11 - 3 tablespoons fish sauce
12 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
13 - 1 teaspoon sugar
14 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - 1 to 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
17 - Extra lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Bruise the lemongrass, galangal, and makrut lime leaves with the back of a knife to release their essential aromas.
02 - In a large pot, bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add lemongrass, galangal, makrut lime leaves, birds eye chilies, and garlic. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes to infuse the broth with fragrance.
03 - Add the sliced chicken and onion to the broth. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface.
04 - Add mushrooms and tomato wedges. Cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until the vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through.
05 - Stir in fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and salt. Taste and adjust lime, salt, or fish sauce as desired to achieve perfect balance of sour, salty, and spicy flavors.
06 - Remove from heat. Discard lemongrass, galangal, and makrut lime leaves if preferred for cleaner presentation.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with cilantro, spring onions, and extra lime wedges.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Fragrant Aromatics: The combination of fresh lemongrass and galangal creates an intoxicating scent that defines Thai cuisine.
  • Quick and Nutritious: A healthy, high-protein meal that is gluten-free, dairy-free, and ready in just 40 minutes.
  • Perfectly Balanced: A masterclass in balancing the four pillars of Thai flavor: spicy, sour, salty, and sweet.
02 -
  • Fresh Lime Juice: Always add the lime juice at the very end or after removing from heat to prevent the citrus notes from becoming bitter.
  • Flavor Infusion: Don't skip the initial 5-minute simmer of the aromatics; this stage is crucial for building the soup's flavor foundation.
  • Adjust to Taste: Thai cooking is all about personal preference—tinker with the fish sauce for saltiness and lime for acidity until it tastes perfect to you.
Go Back