This Thai Curry Soup Recipe is made with coconut milk, chicken, Thai curry paste and veggies. It's full of flavor and super nutritious!
This is one of my all time favorite soups (and I love soup!) It's rich and creamy from the coconut milk, full of bright flavor from the curry paste and lime and so packed with nutrition.
It's also the kind of recipe that tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep!
You can increase or decrease the curry paste to match your preferred spice level. This is actually a great way to introduce kids to the beautiful flavor profile of Thai curry because it's not overly spicy.
I hope you love this one as much as I do!
Thai Curry Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 bok choy
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro
- 2 cups shiitake mushrooms
- 1/2 yellow onion
- ~2 inch knob ginger
- 2 limes
- 1 large bone-in chicken breast (3/4-1#)
- 1 Tbsp Thai curry paste*
- 4 cups chicken broth*
- 1 can lite coconut milk
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- S&P
Instructions
- Finely chop & set aside separately: 2 bok choy, 1 red bell pepper, 1 large handful cilantro, 2 cups shiitake mushrooms and ½ yellow onion.
- Peel & grate ginger to equal 1Tbsp.
- Cut 2 limes in wedges.
- Heat large soup pot over med-high. Add 1 large, bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, skin side down.
- Add the following to soup pot: chopped onion, chopped bok choy, chopped bell pepper, sliced shiitake mushroom, 1 Tbsp grated ginger, 1 Tbsp Thai curry paste.
- Sauté for ~5 minutes, stirring.
- Add 4 cups chicken broth, 1 can lite coconut milk and 2 cups water (add more water if needed). Bring to a low boil & cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove chicken & cool. Cut meat from bone and chop. Return meat to soup and cook 10-15 minutes.
- Optional: Season w/ up to 1 tsp cayenne pepper (add gradually as this adds heat!).
- Serve w/ chopped cilantro & lime wedges.
Notes
What is the nutrition like in this Thai curry soup recipe?
In addition to tasting good, this is definitely the kind of recipe that will make you feel good as well. Ginger, herbs and, of course, the veggies, are all so nutritious. Here are a few of the specific nutritional benefits you'll get from this recipe:
Bok Choy (Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folate, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium)
Like other cruciferous vegetables, bok choy may be beneficial in preventing cancer. The combination of vitamins found in book choy is also good for bone health and healthy blood pressure.
Bell Peppers (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Iron, Potassium, Fiber, Antioxidants)
Bell peppers provide tons of good-for-you vitamins. The combination of iron and vitamin C in bell peppers makes them particularly good for preventing anemia. They're also highly beneficial for eye health.
Want a pro tip? Choose red! Red bell peppers offer even more nutrients and can have 1.5 times as much vitamin C and 11 times as much beta-carotene as green bell peppers.
Cilantro (Antioxidants, Plant Compounds)
Cilantro supports the health of your brain, possibly reducing the risk of Parkinsons and Alztheimers disease as well as anxiety. In addition, one of cilantro's biggest benefits is its prevention of blood sugar spikes. Finally, cilantro has antimicrobial elements and thus may help prevent food poisoning. It's worth noting that many studies on cilantro use cilantro extract, rather than the leaves.
Shiitake Mushrooms (B Vitamins, Selenium, Manganese, Zinc, Folate, Vitamin D)
Shiitake mushrooms support a healthy heart, lower cholesterol, a strong immune system and strong bones. Mushrooms are also the only natural vegan food-based source of Vitamin D. If you can't find fresh shiitake mushrooms, dried shiitakes are a great substitute!
Onions (Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium, Antioxidants)
Did you know that the humble onion is actually packed with antioxidants? Onions also have vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate and potassium. Onions are a super budget friendly way to add some extra vitamins to your diet.
Ginger (Antioxidants)
Ginger helps with nausea and indigestion and also provides antibacterial and antioxidant benefits. It can also help muscle soreness dissipate. Ginger contains significant amounts of antioxidants, making it potentially beneficial in fighting a variety of diseases.
Limes (Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, Antioxidants)
The combination of vitamin C and antioxidants makes limes great for your immune system. Vitamin C is also highly beneficial for your skin, with anti-aging effects. Limes are also good for your heart, beneficial for preventing kidney stones and may even help prevent certain types of cancer.
Coconut Milk
Made of the white flesh of coconuts mixed with water, coconut milk is high in manganese, copper, iron, magnesium and selenium. It's also a good source of potassium, vitamin C and folate. Some studies have shown that coconut helps to reduce inflammation, fight bacteria and viruses and fight stomach ulcers.
Is this soup paleo?
Yes! The only ingredient you'll need to double check is your curry paste since these can differ, but they are generally paleo-friendly. For example, the popular brand Thai Kitchen's red curry paste is made from spices, red chile pepper, garlic, lemongrass, shallots, coriander and kefir lime – all clean, Paleo ingredients!
What are some variations on this chicken coconut curry soup?
This is one of those recipes where, after you get the hang of it, you can totally make it your own. Once you have the base of coconut milk, curry paste and ginger, you can really vary the veggies and protein and still get a great result. Here are some ideas to get you started but please feel free to get creative!
- Change the curry paste: You can use red, green or yellow curry paste with great results here. The color and flavor profile of your soup will of course change, but each is delicious in this dish. If you'd like to learn more about the different types of Thai curry paste, this article is a great resource.
- Switch up the protein: If you're not in the mood for chicken, shrimp or white fish like halibut would also be delicious in this soup.
- Make it vegetarian: You could easily omit the chicken and add tofu, or even chickpeas, for a protein boost.
- Serve over rice: To make this dish a bit heartier (or more kid-friendly), serve over rice or rice noodles!
- Use different veggies: Eggplant, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans…so many veggies would be delicious here!
Can I meal prep this Thai chicken soup recipe?
Yes! This Thai chicken soup recipe is perfect for meal prep. I actually recommend you make the entire soup ahead of time because it's so delicious after siting for a couple of days to let the flavors really meld. If you don't want to make the whole soup ahead of time though, just chop the veggies and it will come together quickly the night you want to serve.
What are some more Paleo soup recipes?
I love soup, and actually eat soup all year long. (If you haven't tried cold soups, check out this episode of my podcast, Meal Prep Monday!)
Not only are soups cozy and warming, they're also perfect for meal prep. For most soups, you can make the whole thing ahead of time and enjoy throughout the week. I also often freeze either a single serving of soup or a whole batch for future meals. Finally, I love making a soup when I have random veggies in the fridge to use up, it's a great way to reduce food waste!
In addition to this Thai curry soup recipe, I've developed tons of healthy soups over the years. Here are a few of my very favorite Paleo soup recipes:
Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie Soup: My paleo chicken pot pie soup is essentially comfort in a bowl. It gets all of its creaminess from cashew cream so it's totally dairy free and paleo-friendly.
Red Pepper Soup w/ Sweet Potatoes: For a vegetarian option, this is a beautiful choice. This one is perfect served with a simple green salad.
Classic Chicken Vegetable Soup: This soup is so nostalgic, I promise you won't miss the noodles. This is one of our most popular recipes and it's easy to see why! It's simple with all clean ingredients, yet totally delicious and craveable.
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