Description
A rich and aromatic Thai coconut shrimp soup (Tom Kha Goong) with creamy coconut milk, tender shrimp, mushrooms, and fragrant herbs. Balanced with lime, chili, and fish sauce, it’s comforting yet vibrant—a quick restaurant-quality dish at home.
Ingredients
500 g (1 lb) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on optional)
400 ml (14 oz) coconut milk, full-fat
750 ml (3 cups) chicken or vegetable stock
2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed and bruised
30 g (1 oz) galangal root, thinly sliced (or ginger substitute)
4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
2 red chili peppers, sliced
200 g (7 oz) mushrooms, halved
2 tbsp fish sauce
3 tbsp lime juice, fresh
1 tsp brown sugar
2 shallots, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Handful Thai basil leaves (optional)
1 tbsp neutral oil
Salt, to taste
Instructions
Prepare base: Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic. Sauté 2 minutes until fragrant.
Infuse broth: Add stock, lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves. Simmer 10 minutes.
Add coconut milk: Stir in coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar. Keep heat low, simmer 5 minutes.
Add vegetables: Put in mushrooms and chili peppers. Simmer 5 minutes.
Cook shrimp: Add shrimp. Simmer 3–4 minutes until pink and opaque.
Finish: Remove from heat. Add lime juice and cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve: Ladle into bowls. Garnish with Thai basil and extra chili if desired.
Notes
Do not boil coconut milk—simmer gently for smooth texture.
Use fresh herbs for authentic flavor. Dried substitutes work but are less aromatic.
Add shrimp last to keep them tender.
Adjust lime, chili, and fish sauce to balance salty, sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 350 ml)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: <0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
Keywords: Thai coconut shrimp soup, Tom Kha Goong, coconut milk shrimp soup