Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup (Print Version)

Creamy Thai soup with shrimp, coconut milk, and aromatic herbs in a fragrant red curry broth.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ Seafood

01 - 12 ounces large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Aromatics & Vegetables

02 - 2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and smashed
03 - 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small onion, thinly sliced
06 - 3.5 ounces mushrooms, sliced
07 - 1 small red chili, sliced
08 - 1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger or galangal, sliced

→ Broth

09 - 14 fluid ounces coconut milk
10 - 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste

→ Seasonings

12 - 2 tablespoons fish sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon lime juice, plus more to taste
14 - 1 teaspoon sugar

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh cilantro leaves
16 - Lime wedges
17 - Sliced green onions

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, lemongrass, ginger or galangal, and chili for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
02 - Stir in Thai red curry paste and cook for 1 minute to release its full aroma and deepen flavors.
03 - Pour in coconut milk and chicken or vegetable broth. Add kaffir lime leaves if using. Bring to a gentle simmer.
04 - Add mushrooms and simmer for 5 minutes until just tender.
05 - Add shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until pink and cooked through.
06 - Stir in fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more lime juice, fish sauce, or sugar as desired.
07 - Remove lemongrass, ginger or galangal, and lime leaves before serving.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, green onions, and lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Its faster than ordering takeout but tastes like it came from your favorite Thai spot
  • The balance of tangy lime and creamy coconut is absolutely addictive
  • You can customize the heat level and still keep all the flavor
02 -
  • Dont skip blooming the curry paste in oil, that minute of cooking makes all the flavor difference
  • Shrimp continue cooking after you remove them from heat, so pull them when theyre just barely pink
  • The soup thickens as it sits, so thin with a splash of broth when reheating leftovers
03 -
  • Freeze leftover lemongrass and ginger for future batches, they keep beautifully
  • Full fat coconut milk makes a noticeably richer soup than light versions
  • A tablespoon of brown sugar instead of white adds subtle depth
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