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Khao Soi is a rich fragrant Coconut Curry Noodle Soup that hails from Northern Thailand. This FAST, FLAVORFUL & EASY version can be made with w/ either shrimp, crispy tofu or chicken! Vegan-adaptable, GF. Video!
No Matter how hard the past, you can always begin again. ~Buddha
This 15-Minute Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup is called Khao Soi, and hails from the Northern part of Thailand (Chiang Mai) where the weather stays a bit cooler. It’s a godsend when time is short, or you are feeling a bit lazy, yet you crave something warm, rich and spicy.
The coconut broth is fragrant and rich, coating the noodles well. And once the flavorful base is made, what you put in the soup is very adaptable. Today I’ve added prawns – but it’s delicious with crispy tofu or chicken too, or even just veggies.
How to Make Khao Soi! | 30-sec video
Spring showers have been here, making everything exceptionally bright and green and lush. On rainy spring days like we’ve had these past few weeks, all I want to do is wrap myself up in a cozy blanket, curl up with a good book and slurp soup. Preferably with a little heat and some kind of noodle.
Ingredients in Khao Soi
- rice noodles
- coconut oil, peanut oil or olive oil
- shallot
- lemongrass
- garlic cloves
- Thai Red Curry Paste (store-bought, I like this brand), more for spicier
- ground turmeric
- ground cardamom– optional
- coconut milk
- chicken stock or veggie broth
- kefir lime leaves
- red bell pepper (optional- sub other veggies)
- fish sauce– or vegan fish sauce
- soy sauce (perhaps reduce if using vegan fish sauce, or use to taste)
- brown sugar, palm sugar or an alternative substitute
- chili garlic sauce (Sambal Olek)
- protein: shrimp or prawns (or sub crispy tofu, or raw, thinly sliced chicken- or leftover baked chicken or rotisserie chicken)
- lime
- Optional Garnishes: fresh basil (Thai basil is best!), pickled mustard Greens (traditional), crispy noodles, cilantro, bean sprouts, lime wedge, thinly sliced red onions or scallions.
Variations of Khao Soi
- You can make this Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup vegan by using crispy tofu and vegan fish sauce, and swap in veggie stock for the chicken stock. You can add more veggies to the broth.
- You can make this chicken breast or chicken thighs
- Or make this with shrimp.
- Instead of shrimp, you can add fish.
- Traditional Khao Soi is often topped with crispy noodles and pickled mustard greens as a garnish which you can pick up at Asian Markets. The pickled mustard greens are especially nice here.
How to Garnish Khao Soi
- pickled mustard greens or stems (traditional)
- crispy ramen noodles (traditional)
- cilantro or Thai basil
- Lime wedges
- Bean sprouts
So comforting and flavorful!
Noodles in Thai Coconut Curry Soup
- rice noodles
- Chinese egg noodles
- Crispy fried ramen noodles (for the garnish)
More Thai recipes you may like:
- Thai Green Curry Noodle Soup
- Easy to Make Pad Thai with Chicken Shrimp or Tofu
- Authentic Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)
- Thai Green Curry with Vegetables
- Instant Pot Thai Curry Chicken
- Thai Burrito with Peanut Sauce
- 20 Delicious Thai Recipes!
Khao Soi ( Thai Coconut Noodle Soup)
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Category: Main, soup, seafood
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Thai
Description
A flavorful and very addicting Northern Style Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup, called Khao Soi. Easy and fast, and so yummy.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces dry rice noodles
- 1 tablespoon coconut, peanut or olive oil
- 1 large shallot finely diced ( or sub half an onion)
- 2 tablespoons chopped lemongrass
- 2 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- 2 tablespoons Thai Red Curry Paste (store-bought, I like this brand), more for spicier
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric – optional
- pinch cardamom– optional
- 14-ounce can coconut milk
- 1 cup chicken broth (or use water and one chicken bouillon cube)
- 4–6 kefir lime leaves (optional, but delicious!)
- 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper (optional- sub other veggies)
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce– or vegan fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce ( perhaps reduce if using vegan fish sauce, or use to taste)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, palm sugar or an alternative substitute
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (Sambal Olek)
- 8–12 ounces protein: raw, peeled prawns, or crispy tofu, or raw, thinly sliced chicken- or leftover baked chicken or rotisserie chicken)
- 1 lime
Garnish with fresh basil (Thai basil is best!), pickled mustard greens (traditional), cilantro, bean sprouts, lime wedge, crispy noodles, thinly sliced red onions or scallions.
Instructions
- Start a pot of boiling water, to cook the rice noodles and make sure to follow your package directions, as rice noodles can differ. Drain and rinse with water to help prevent them from sticking together. A little oil to coat, will help here, or if you time it right, you can add it directly to the soup.
- While water is boiling, prep the shallot, garlic, lemongrass, and red bell pepper, then get all other ingredients ready by the stove.
- In a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallot and lemongrass. Saute until fragrant and golden, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, saute 1-2 minutes. Add red curry paste, turmeric, and a pinch of cardamom. Saute for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the coconut milk, chicken broth and kefir lime leaves and bring to a simmer, stirring. Once gently simmering add the bell pepper, fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce and chili garlic paste.
- Add the prawns (or chicken or crispy tofu) and gently simmer until cooked. Give a generous squeeze of lime. Taste, adding more lime/salt/ red curry paste if necessary.
- Drain the noodles. If serving all of the soup immediately, toss the noodles right into the pot and then serve. Alternatively, divide noodles into the bowls and ladle the flavorful soup over top- a bit easier to handle.
- Garnish with fresh basil, pickled mustard greens, crispy noodles, bean sprouts, thinly sliced red onion, lime wedge, or chopped scallions.
Notes
To bump up the flavorful coconut broth even more, add few slices of galangal!
Feel free to make the soup broth the day before and keep in the fridge, keeping the noodles separate ( they will swell in the soup) and simply reheat.
To bump up the heat, add more red chili paste or chili sauce, or a few thinly sliced fresh chilies ( as a garnish)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 bowls
- Calories: 348
- Sugar: 10.3 g
- Sodium: 1345 mg
- Fat: 16.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 13.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 39.4 g
- Fiber: 1.9 g
- Protein: 12.5 g
- Cholesterol: 71.4 mg
Keywords: Khao Soi Recipe, easy khao soi, coconut curry noodles, thai coconut noodle soup, thai curry noodles, Khao Soi, thai curry noodles
“A” rated recipes but confusing language: “and swapping out veggie stock for the chicken stock”. I suspect that you want to swap ‘in’ veggie stock and swap ‘out’ chicken stock?
I see what you mean Liz. I changed the wording to make it more clear.
We love it. Wife and I.
Awesome Joseph- thanks so much!
This Khao Soi recipe is my new comfort food and will be making it all year round! What a great recipe, easy instructions and loved how adaptable it is! Thank you for being so thoughtful with different diet preference! You’re simply the best!
★★★★★
thanks Donna- so happy you liked it!
I’ve always been intimidated by the thought of making my onw Kao Soi, but your recipe made it so easy to follow! And the flavors are incredible! thank you!!
★★★★★
I’m so glad you gave it a go, Amy!
The flavors of your Khao Soi are so deep and rich, just mouthwatering. So easy to make too, thank you for sharing!!
So glad you are enjoying this!
The perfect Khao Soi right here. Loved it so much, it was perfect. Everyone was raving and it’s on the menu again for this coming week!
★★★★★
Thanks Briana! Glad you enjoyed this!
Forgot the 5 stars!!!
★★★★★
Thank you!!!
Fun to make! Wonderful to smell!
Beautiful to eat!
I encourage a try, you will not be disappointed!!
Thank you again. Your recipes are so dependable!
Thanks so much Jeanette!
Amazing flavor and pretty easy to make. Better than any Thai takeout I’ve had. Another wonderful recipe from FAH!
★★★★★
Glad you liked this Jenna!
Thank you for this gorgeous recipe! The flavour is spectacular and my husband loved it!!!
★★★★★
Great to hear Anna!
This was delicious. And fairly easy! I had some kefir lime leaves and lemongrass in the freezer, used panang curry paste, added the cardamom. It came together quickly and was even more delicious the next day!
★★★★★
Glad you enjoyed Amanda!
Love this recipe! Love it even more because my husband can make it!!
★★★★★
Yes!!…so nice to be cooked for.
Sylvia,
This is delicious, really enjoyed, did not change a thing except omitted the cardamon. Thanks for another ‘to die for’ recipe. This will be enjoyed regularly in our house!
Annette
★★★★★
Thanks Annette, so happy you enjoyed!