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Jean-Georges's Coconut Soup with Chicken and Shiitakes

This fabulous Thai-style soup was a mainstay of the Mercer Kitchen
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 day 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Thai
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 chicken breast halves, bone-in, skin-on
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 inch piece of gaglangal, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp red Thai curry paste (2 if you like it spicy)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 6 Kaffir lime leaves
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed with the flat side of a knife
  • 4 Thai chlies, 2 chilies bruised to release their fragrance, 2 thinly sliced for garnish
  • 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced or severely bruised with the back of a heavy knife
  • 1 14-oz can coconut milk
  • 8 shiitakes, stemmed and quartered
  • lime juice as needed (have two on hand)
  • fish sauce to taste
  • 2-4 scallions, thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Remove the chicken breasts from the bones. Chop the bones into more manageble pieces. Reserve the bones and the skin. Cut the meat into a medium diceseason with salt and reserve.
  • In a medium sized pot over medium heat, add the butter. When it's melted, add the onion, galangal, curry paste, and reserved chicken bones and skn. Stir and cook to sweat the onions and cook the chicken bones, 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the chicken stock, followed by 2 Kaffir lime leaves, half the bunch of cilantro, garlic, the 2 bruised chilies, and lemongrass. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 30 minutes or so. Strain the mixture into a clean pot.
  • Return the broth to the stove over medium high heat. Add the coconut milk, mushrooms, reserved chicken breast, a tablespoon of lime juice, and a tablespoon of fish sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about five minutes or so. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired with more lemon, fish sauce and salt if it needs it (remember that fish sauce is salty).
  • Divide into four bowls. Garnish with cilantro leaves, scallion, chilies, and a lime leaf.

Notes

If you have an abundance of chicken stock, use six cups of it and omit the two cups of water.
Serve with a bowl of rice on the side; pick up some rice in your spoon, then dip the spoon into the broth.
Keyword chicken soup, coconut, galangal, lemongrass