More Soup

 I made some Tom Kha Gai today.

Being me, I couldn't find a recipe that looked quite right, so I cobbled several togather.
It came out pretty good.  The only changes I'd make are:  more chilis, more curry paste, more lime juice, add some salt.

So here's my recipe for Tom Kha Gai:

Ingredients:
    4T coconut oil, divided
    1 med. onion, roughly chopped, divided
    3 cloves garlic, chopped
    several Thai chilis, halved (more or less depending on desired spiciness)
    3 ¼-inch slices galangal or ginger
    1  stalk lemongrass, crushed with the flat a knife and cut into 2-inch pieces
    2 teaspoons red Thai curry paste (more or less depending on desired spiciness)
    1 32 oz box + 1 14.5 oz can chicken stock
    4-5 kaffir lime leaves
    2 13.5 oz cans coconut milk
    1-2 lb chicken thighs, sliced
    2 c white mushrooms, quartered
    1 red bell peper, chopped
    1 c halved cherry tomatoed
    1/4 head cabbage, roughly chopped
    3T fish sauce (more or less to taste)
    1/4 c lime juice (more or less to taste)

Process:
    Heat 2T oil in a saucepan (large enough to hold the chicken stock easily).  Add 1/2 of the onion, the garlic, the chilis, the galangal (or ginger), the lemongrass, and the curry paste.
    Saute until the onions soften (around 5 minutes).  Add the chicken stock.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.  Add the kaffir lime leaves. Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes (or so).

    Strain broth and discard solids (I strained it into another pot to simplify things).  Add the coconut milk, chicken, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.  Bring to boil again, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer uncovered until the chicken is fully cooked.
    In the meantime, heat the remaining oil and saute the other 1/2 onion and the bell pepper until the onions are translucent (around 10 minutes).  Add to the stock.  

    Once the chicken is cooked, add the cabbage, fish sauce, and lime juice.  Continue to simmer until cabbage reaches desired softness.

    Serve hot.

I didn't have any garnish, but cilanto and sliced green onion are popular.

Later,