Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup (Printable Version)

Creamy Thai soup with shrimp, coconut milk, and red curry for tangy-spicy flavor

# What You Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 12 oz large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Aromatics & Vegetables

02 - 2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and smashed
03 - 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn (optional)
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small onion, thinly sliced
06 - 3.5 oz mushrooms, sliced
07 - 1 small red chili, sliced (optional)
08 - 1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger or galangal, sliced

→ Broth

09 - 14 fl oz coconut milk
10 - 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 2 tbsp Thai red curry paste

→ Seasonings

12 - 2 tbsp fish sauce
13 - 1 tbsp lime juice, plus more to taste
14 - 1 tsp sugar

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh cilantro leaves
16 - Lime wedges
17 - Sliced green onions

# Directions:

01 - Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, lemongrass, ginger or galangal, and chili for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
02 - Stir in the red curry paste and cook for 1 minute to release its aroma and deepen its flavor.
03 - Pour in the coconut milk and chicken broth. Add kaffir lime leaves if using. Bring to a gentle simmer.
04 - Add the mushrooms and simmer for 5 minutes until just tender.
05 - Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, until pink and cooked through.
06 - Stir in fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more lime juice, fish sauce, or sugar as desired.
07 - Remove lemongrass, ginger or galangal, and lime leaves from the soup.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, green onions, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its incredibly forgiving, you can adjust the heat and tang until it hits exactly what your craving
  • The whole house smells like those wonderful nights you spend at your favorite Thai spot
02 -
  • Overcooking the shrimp makes them rubbery, so pull them the second they turn pink
  • The soup tastes better after sitting for 10 minutes, giving flavors time to marry
03 -
  • Smash lemongrass with a heavy pan or rolling pin if your knife skills aren't feeling confident
  • Start with less curry paste than you think you need, you can always add more
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