Tom Kha Gai

Description
This soup is really sophisticated and unusual. The recipe came from The BestSoups cookbook. It's delicious, but don't be tempted to increase the curry paste as it spoils the delicate flavour.



Ingredients

 * 2 cans coconut milk
 * 2 cups chicken stock
 * 4 red Thai chile, diced
 * 1 inch fresh galangal root, thinly sliced
 * 1 piece fresh ginger
 * 2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced (this is easier if the breasts are still mostly frozen when you cut them)
 * 1 can straw mushrooms
 * 4 medium tomatoes (optional)
 * 1 stalk finely chopped lemongrass (optional)
 * 10 kaffir lime leaf, thinly sliced
 * 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
 * 3 tablespoons lime juice
 * 2 tablespoons fish sauce
 * 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions

 * 1) Bring coconut milk and broth to a boil, add thinly sliced galangal, minced ginger, and thai chiles to soup and simmer on medium for 10 minutes.
 * 2) Add chicken slices and stir occasionally until chicken is tenderly cooked.
 * 3) Add straw mushrooms (drained), and thinly sliced, deveined lime leaves (optional: cut a few cross-sections of lemon grass and add to the soup)
 * 4) (optional: cut tomatoes into largish cubes about 1" square, and add to soup)
 * 5) Add more thai chiles if it is not spicy enough for you—simmer for 10 more minutes.
 * 6) When you are ready to serve, turn off the heat, add brown sugar, lime juice,  sauce, and stir well.
 * 7) Then top it off with the cut cilantro.
 * 8) Serve hot by itself or pour over rice.
 * 9) Dash chile sauce over the top to taste.