Thai Chicken & Coconut Soup

From EatingWell: January/February 1996, The Essential EatingWell Cookbook (2004) — Subscribe Now!

Rich coconut milk and chicken broth infused with lemongrass, chiles and ginger combine to give this fragrant, spicy soup authentic Asian flavor.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I made this tonight for my husband and me. I added some potatoes and sliced onions to the broth after straining out the chilies, ginger, lemongrass and garlic. I also used shrimp instead of chicken. This soup was so tasty. We're both...

4 servings, scant 1 cup each

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

2 stalks fresh lemongrass, (see Note)
6 coin-size slices fresh ginger, unpeeled
2 cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 fresh chile peppers, such as serrano or jalapeño
2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
1/2 cup lite coconut milk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2-3 tablespoons lime juice, plus 4 thin lime slices for garnish
1-2 teaspoons fish sauce, or reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 scallions, trimmed and sliced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation

Trim lemongrass stalks of root ends, outer leaves and grassy tops. Cut into 2-inch lengths. Smash each piece with the flat of a chef’s knife. Crush ginger and garlic (do not peel) with the knife. Trim stems from chiles, cut in half lengthwise and smash (for maximum heat do not remove the seeds).
Place the crushed lemongrass, garlic, ginger and chiles in a wide pan and pour in broth. Bring to a simmer, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface.
Add chicken breasts to the broth. Cover and simmer gently over low heat just until the chicken is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. With tongs, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and set aside.
Bring the broth to a lively boil and boil for about 5 minutes to intensify the flavors. Strain the broth into a saucepan, pressing on the solids to extract all the juices. Stir in coconut milk and heat through over medium heat.
Stir together cornstarch, 2 tablespoons lime juice and 1 teaspoon fish sauce (or soy sauce) in a small bowl. Add to the soup and cook, stirring, until simmering and slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
Thinly slice the poached chicken and add to the soup. Season with additional lime juice and fish sauce (or soy sauce) to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and float a lime slice, some scallions and cilantro leaves in each one.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Ingredient Note: Lemongrass is an aromatic tropical grass used to add a pungent, lemony flavor to Asian dishes. It is available fresh at large supermarkets and Asian groceries.

Nutrition

Per serving: 131 calories; 4 g fat (2 g sat, 0 g mono); 35 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrates; 15 g protein; 0 g fiber; 188 mg sodium; 129 mg potassium.

1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 1/2 lean meat