Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (2024)

Take a trip to Southeast Asia with this nutty, smoky, hot and sweet red coconut curry soup, which packs a pleasant medium heat. If you’re a fan of spicy food, this is the best curry recipe for you!

Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (1)

What is Red Coconut Curry Soup?

Red coconut curry soup is a complex Thai dish that combines the boldness of red chilies to the sweet and wholesome flavors of peanut butter and coconut. The result is a beautiful red soup with sweet and smoky notes of flavor.

I first fell in love with this dish at a little Cambodian restaurant in my hometown while I was a waitress in high school. After I got off work at my restaurant, I would walk to get la soupe Bangkok for myself and my mom, and it was our family favorite!

Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (2)

How to Cook Curry Soup:

The base of this rich (and filling) coconut curry soup is made by briefly frying Thai red curry paste, garlic, ginger, onion, a little sugar, fish sauce, cumin, peanut butter, and chopped coriander stems. Chicken broth and full-fat coconut milk are then added to create the most delicious, creamy, and fragrant broth you’ll ever create in your own kitchen.

The mixture is left to simmer until the broth reduces by about a third, so you are left with a thick, creamy soup that is served with rice vermicelli noodles, shredded iceberg lettuce, coriander leaves and a generous squeeze of lemon juice.

If you’re not sure where to find all of these ingredients, you can visit your local Asian market. They will have the full fat coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, and any other ingredients you may be missing to create this easy soup.

Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (3)

What is the History of Thai Red Coconut Curry Soup?

Curry first began as an Indian dish, as early as 2500 B.C. Over time, curry spread all over Asia, and many countries created their own versions. As Thai curry paste became distinct, curry became absolutely integral to the cuisine in Thailand, and Thai red curry soup is one of the ways it evolved over time.

Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (4)

What is the Difference Between Thai Curry and Indian Curry?

If you love Indian curry and have never tried Thai curry, you might wonder what the differences are. While these foods are both delicious and rich in flavor, they are two extremely different dishes.

First of all, Indian curry is usually cream-based, whereas this Thai curry uses coconut milk. Thai curry, which is more like a hot soup, starts off with green, yellow, or red curry paste, which is then mixed with fresh ingredients and coconut milk to create more of a soup. Indian curry is created with dry spices and is a much thicker consistency due to the cream or ghee and longer cook times.

This is my favorite soup, I don’t even know how many times I’ve enjoyed it over the past year with my family. It’s also a really easy recipe to double, so you can have this meal multiple times a week! You can make the broth ahead of time and refrigerate it in an airtight container until it’s time to eat.

If you’re reusing the broth, however, the rice noodles take about 7-9 minutes to soak in hot water (just follow the package instructions), so it’s better to make them right before adding to the soup for a fresher and firmer texture.

Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (5)

Is Red Curry Soup Healthy?

Yes! Thai coconut curry soup is made out of fresh vegetables and coconut milk, and it can be prepared to match any diet, like Whole30, keto, or a low carb diet. As long as the curry base, chicken broth, and coconut milk you choose are compliant with your diet, this red curry soup will make an excellent addition to your schedule. The best part is, this soup in and of itself is a complete meal!

Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (6)
Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (7)

If you like this coconut curry soup, here are other recipes you might enjoy:

Drunken Noodles – Pad Kee Mao

Pad Woon Sen (Thai Glass Noodle Stir Fry)

Miso Kimchi Ramen

Basic Udon Soup (Kake Udon)

Did you like thisRed Coconut Curry Soup Recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share?Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

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Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (12)

Red Coconut Curry Soup

★★★★★5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Caroline Phelps
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 people 1x
  • Category: Soups
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: Thai
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Description

Take a trip to Southeast Asia with this hot, smoky, sour and sweet red coconut curry soup. This is one amazing noodle soup you won’t be able to put down!

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 thumb size ginger (peeled and minced)
  • 3 tablespoons coriander stems (finely chopped)
  • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
  • 3 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 3 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup lite coconut milk
  • 100 grams dry rice noodles
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
  • lemon wedges for serving
  • handful fresh coriander leaves

Instructions

  1. In a medium size pot over high heat, add oil, garlic, ginger, coriander stems and onion, and fry for 4-5 minutes, until onions are translucent.
  2. Add curry paste, cumin, sugar and peanut butter and stir well until well blended.
  3. Add fish sauce, chicken stock and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes – or until the soup has reduced by about a third (you can cook it for an additional 10 minutes if you like a stronger broth).
  4. Meanwhile soak the rice noodles in hot water for 10 minutes, or according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
  5. Divide the broth among two bowls and add a slice of lemon. Add rice noodles and shredded lettuce. Top with fresh coriander leaves and serve.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 340
  • Sugar: 7.8 g
  • Sodium: 1454.8 mg
  • Fat: 14.3 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38.1 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 11 g
  • Cholesterol: 6.3 mg

Keywords: recipe, appetizer, main, noodles

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Red Coconut Curry Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken Thai red curry? ›

How can I thicken up a Thai red curry sauce? Make a slurry of cornflour and water, say a teaspoon of flour to a tablespoon of cold water, mix it well and drizzle it into the curry sauce, drizzle half in and stir to thicken and if not thick enough add more and so on.

How do you thicken coconut milk curry? ›

You can use mashed potatoes or flour. Corn flour can be used as well and you can use cream mixed with coconut milk. You can also use gram flour. Tapioca, arrowroot flour can be used too.

How do you use canned red curry paste? ›

However, you can bring curry paste's deep flavor to a variety of recipes. You can use it in a marinade or as a rub for chicken, fish, or beef. Mixing it with vinegar or yogurt will result in a tasty salad dressing. What's more, adding curry paste at the beginning of cooking can help you build flavor in soups and stews.

How many carbs are in coconut curry soup? ›

Pacific Coconut Curry Soup (1 cup) contains 28g total carbs, 24g net carbs, 9g fat, 4g protein, and 200 calories.

Does Thai coconut soup have carbs? ›

Happy Planet Thai Coconut Soup (250 ml) contains 12g total carbs, 10g net carbs, 10g fat, 2g protein, and 140 calories.

Can you use yogurt instead of coconut milk in Thai curry? ›

Although Greek yogurt may not immediately come to mind, it's a creative substitute for coconut milk because of its thick consistency. To replace 1 cup (240 ml) of coconut milk, mix 1 cup (240 ml) of Greek yogurt with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of water.

How do you make Thai red curry taste better? ›

Thai Red Curry Tips

Choose full-fat coconut milk for its richness (you won't regret it!). Stirring in just a little bit of rice vinegar and sugar adds tons of complexity. Readily available store-bought Thai red curry paste adds characteristic Thai flavor and, bonus, the Thai Kitchen brand is vegetarian.

Does cornstarch make curry thicker? ›

If you have some cornstarch on hand in your kitchen, mix a tablespoon (15 mL) of cornstarch with a tablespoon (15 mL) of water. Mix this into your curry while it's boiling to get it to thicken. If necessary, you can add a bit more water and cornstarch if your curry doesn't thicken with one tablespoon (15 mL) of each.

Why is my coconut curry so watery? ›

Light coconut milk or coconut water will be too watery and throw off the consistency of the curry. Too low of a cooking temperature: A curry must simmer to cook off any excess liquid and reach the desired thickness. If you cook the sauce on very low heat, the liquid will never have the chance to evaporate.

How to make coconut curry creamier? ›

Best way to thicken is is to grate a potato or two in there. Potato is delicious in curries and adds creaminess naturally. I also like to turn some dry coconut flakes to powder using a coffee grinder and add it in. It intensifies the coconut flavor and thickens at the same time.

What to do if you put too much coconut milk in curry? ›

If you're looking to reduce the coconut milk taste in a dish, here are a few tips. First, try adding a small amount of another liquid like chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even plain water.

What happens if you add too much curry paste? ›

* Add some more meat/veggies to the curry and it will balance out the taste. You can always use the leftovers for next meal. If you added too much of curry paste it will increase the spiciness and pungent smell of the gravy.

What is the difference between red curry powder and red curry paste? ›

Curry paste is a wet ingredient made with fresh chilies. It must be dissolved into a liquid during the cooking process. Curry powder is a dry ingredient that must be activated with a liquid or oil. It does not include fresh chilies, so it will be much less spicy than a curry paste.

How to make canned curry better? ›

Add more spices: Store-bought curry sauces often lack the depth of flavour that homemade sauces have. To remedy this, you can add more spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala. Use fresh ginger and garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic add a lot of flavour to curries.

Is coconut curry high in calories? ›

Thai curries are usually made with a hefty dose of coconut milk, and that won't do your diet any favors. One cup of the creamy milk packs in 400 calories. It also has 36 grams of saturated fat -- more than three times the recommended daily amount. For a healthier dish, order the grilled or barbecued curry chicken.

How many calories in a bowl of Thai coconut chicken soup? ›

Save On Foods Kitchen Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (250 ml) contains 10g total carbs, 9g net carbs, 13g fat, 9g protein, and 200 calories.

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