Chicken Galangal Soup Recipe, a Great Introduction to Thai Home Cooking
For five years, I’ve been sharing my culinary adventures from around the globe, bringing the flavors of my favorite destinations to your home kitchens through my videos, The Dining Traveler Cooking Series. To celebrate this milestone, I’m kicking off a new series of easy, globally-inspired recipes that anyone can make. And what better way to start than with a dish that transports me straight back to one of my most beloved places: Thailand. Join me as we create a fragrant and comforting Chicken Galangal Soup (Tom Kha Gai), an authentic taste of Siam.
What is Chicken Galangal Soup
Chicken Galangal soup, a creamy, coconut-milk-based soup, is a beautiful mix of flavors: sweet, sour, spicy, and savory, all working together in perfect harmony. It’s rich and satisfying yet surprisingly light and refreshing. It is ideal for a chilly evening or whenever you crave a little spice in your life. And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to make! In just about 30 minutes, and with less than $20 worth of ingredients, you can have a taste of Thailand on your table.
My love affair with Thai cuisine began years ago when I first visited in 2003 when I worked as a young Marine Officer on a two-month stint in the country. I was enthralled by the spices, colors, and flavors as they were too different from what I grew up with. Although I’ve visited Thailand several times, it wasn’t until 2024 that I had a proper Thai cooking class. I had the incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of its nuances during a visit to the Anantara Golden Triangle Camp and Resort in Chiang Rai. This stunning resort, complete with an elephant sanctuary, also boasts a fantastic cooking school. Imagine learning the secrets of authentic Thai dishes with elephants roaming in the background! I learned to make this Chicken Galangal Soup at their cooking school, surrounded by lush gardens and the sounds of nature. My trip to the Golden Triangle was one of my most memorable travel experiences so far, where I can blend my love for food and culture.
What is Galangal?
One of the stars of this soup, and a cornerstone of Thai cuisine, is galangal. Often mistaken for ginger, galangal is a rhizome in the same family but with a distinct flavor profile. While both share a slightly gingery note, galangal is more citrusy, earthy, and subtly peppery. It lacks ginger’s intense spiciness, offering a more delicate and complex aroma that adds a unique fragrance to Thai dishes. Think of it as ginger’s more sophisticated cousin. Galangal is also a key ingredient in many Thai curry pastes, lending its distinctive character to these flavorful blends. You can typically find fresh galangal in Asian supermarkets, often in the fresh produce section. If you can’t find fresh galangal, check the frozen section – it freezes beautifully and retains its flavor.
Creating Your Chicken Galangal Soup
We’ll start by building a flavorful base with chicken stock, bringing it to a boil, and then infusing it with aromatic ingredients. Galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai chilies create a fragrant foundation for the soup. The coconut milk adds richness and creaminess, while tender chicken breast and mushrooms provide substance. Finally, fish sauce, tamarind juice, and fresh lime juice balance the flavors, creating that signature Thai sweet-sour-salty taste.
How to Plate the Soup
Once your soup is ready, garnish it with fresh cilantro and a drizzle of chili oil for an extra touch of flavor and heat. The aroma alone will transport you to a bustling Thai market, and the first taste will be a wonderful experience. Cooking Thai food at home also allows you to balance the spiciness to your liking. If you’re serving to a group with mixed spice levels, go low on the Thai chilies and serve extra chili oil to those who want more spice. Making Chicken Galangal Soup takes me back to the vibrant flavors of Thailand without leaving your kitchen. My eight-year-old daughter also loves it, so it’s a great recipe to introduce kids to Thai flavors. So, gather your ingredients, turn on some music, and get cooking!
If you love this soup, you’ll love our Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup.
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Chicken Galangal Soup Recipe, an Easy Introduction to Thai Home Cooking
This creamy and fragrant Chicken Galangal Soup recipe (Tom Kha Gai) is a taste of Thailand in a bowl. Made with coconut milk, aromatic spices like galangal and lemongrass, tender chicken, and mushrooms, it’s easy to make and perfect for a weeknight meal. Adapted from Anantara Golden Triangle Camp and Resort in Chiang Rai cooking school.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts
2 cups chicken stock
2 1/2 cups coconut milk
2-inch piece galangal, thinly sliced
1 cup Angel mushrooms, or any type of brown mushrroms (cut the bottoms)
2-3 Thai chilies, sliced
3 stalks lemongrass, bruised and roughly chopped
10 Kaffir lime leaves, crushed
1/4 cup fish sauce
Juice of 2 Limes
1/3 cup tamarind juice
1 sprig of coriander leaves (Cilantro)
1/2 tsp chilli oil (or to taste)
Instructions
1. Bring the chicken stock to a boil over medium heat then add the sliced galangal, lemongrass
2. Prepare the chicken by removing the skin and cutting the meat into diagonal bite-sized pieces.
and kaffir lime leaves, when it becomes fragrant add coconut milk and continue to boil for a few
minutes.
3. Add the chicken and mushrooms. Simmer until the chicken is cooked.
4. Finally, add the crushed chilies, fish sauce, tamarind, and lime juice then stir till combined completely.
5. Place the soup into the coconut shell and garnish with coriander leaves, crispy fried chilies, and chili oil.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Soups
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Gluten Free
