Name: Thai-Style Chicken and Rice Soup
Cook time: 50 minutes
Total time: 5 1/2 hours
Yield: Makes 8 main-course servings
Ingredients: 8 cups chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth (64 fl oz); 4 cups water; 1 tablespoon Thai green curry paste*; 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 1 (2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, coarsely chopped; 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed; 2 cups loosely packed whole fresh cilantro leaves plus 1/2 cup chopped (from 2 large bunches); 1 cup jasmine rice; 3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced crosswise, then slices cut lengthwise into thin strips, or 3/4 lb medium shrimp in shell (31 to 35 per lb), peeled and deveined; 1 (13- to 14-oz) can unsweetened coconut milk, stirred well; 1/4 lb snow peas, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1/4-inch strips; 2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce; 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste; Accompaniment: lime wedges

Using shrimp instead of chicken in this recipe makes for an equally delicious soup.

Recipe information

Total Time
5 1/2 hours
Yield
Makes 8 main-course servings

Ingredients

8 cups chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth (64 fl oz)

4 cups water

1 tablespoon Thai green curry paste*

4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1 (2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed

2 cups loosely packed whole fresh cilantro leaves plus 1/2 cup chopped (from 2 large bunches)

1 cup jasmine rice

3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced crosswise, then slices cut lengthwise into thin strips, or 3/4 lb medium shrimp in shell (31 to 35 per lb), peeled and deveined

1 (13- to 14-oz) can unsweetened coconut milk, stirred well

1/4 lb snow peas, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1/4-inch strips

2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

Accompaniment: lime wedges

Preparation

Step 1
Combine stock, water, curry paste, garlic, ginger, coriander seeds, and whole cilantro leaves in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, then simmer, uncovered, until ginger is softened, about 15 minutes. Pour through a paper-towel-lined sieve into a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot and discard solids. Stir rice into soup and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 15 minutes.
Step 2
Add chicken or shrimp and poach at a bare simmer, uncovered, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in coconut milk, snow peas, and fish sauce and simmer, uncovered, until peas are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice, salt, and chopped cilantro.
Step 3
*Available at Asian markets, some specialty foods shops, and some supermarkets.

Recipe information

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Recipe notes