Thai Coconut Curry Soup

• premium coconut milk↗2

  (14 ounce) cans

• Thai curry paste↗1 tablespoon
• cilantro roots↗1

  rinsed well

• chicken breasts↗2

  thinly sliced

• chicken broth↗2 cups
• carrot↗1

  shredded

• lime leaves4 -5
• lemongrass2

  halved lengthwise, woody leaves removed

• fish sauce↗2 tablespoons
• limes zest and juice↗2
• frozen ginger↗1

  small knob

• bean sprouts1

  handful

• rice noodles↗8 ounces
• cilantro leaf↗1

  rinsed well

• green onions↗2 -3

  thinly sliced

• salt or soy sauce↗

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Scoop the thick coconut cream from the top of just one of the cans into a large stockpot set over a medium-high heat. Melt the cream, add the curry paste and stir for a few minutes until they begin to sizzle.

2. 2

   Add the chicken and sauté until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Add the coconut juice from the first can and all the contents of the second can along with the chicken broth, carrot, lime leaves, lemon grass, fish sauce and lime zest and juice. Grate the frozen ginger into the broth with a Microplane grater or standard box grater. Simmer for 20 minutes or so.

4. 4

   Stir in the bean sprouts. Add the rice noodles, gently pushing them beneath the surface of the broth. Turn off the heat and let stand until the noodles soften, about 5 minutes. Rice noodles don’t need to simmer like pasta to cook; they simply need to rehydrate in the hot liquid.

5. 5

   Stir in most of the cilantro leaves. Remove the lemon grass stalks. Taste and season with a touch more salt (or soy sauce) as needed. Ladle into large bowls and garnish with the green onions and remaining cilantro leaves.