Tom Kha Udon Soup With Mushrooms Recipe

By
Leela Punyaratabandhu
Leela Punyaratabandhu
Leela Punyaratabanhu is a food writer, recipe developer, and award-winning author specializing in Thai cooking. She has written three cookbooks: Simple Thai Food, Flavors of the Southeast Asian Grill, and Bangkok, which won the 2018 Art of Eating Prize.
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Updated August 30, 2018
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Notes: If you can't find the fresh herbs, forget about them and use commercial Tom Kha paste instead, following the package instructions (if you're a vegetarian or vegan, read the label carefully as some brands contain chicken flavoring and fish sauce). Also, I use enoki mushrooms here, but feel free to use any mushroom you like. I caution against using shiitake mushrooms, however. I find them to be too strong for a delicate soup such as this. Oyster and white button mushrooms work fine. Portobello, on the other hand, tends to change the color of the broth from off-white to gray.

Recipe Details

Tom Kha Udon Soup With Mushrooms Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 20 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 (8 ounce) packages fresh or frozen udon noodles
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut milk
  • 2 1/2 cups homemade or store-bought vegetable broth
  • 2 stalks lemongrass, cut into 1-inch pieces and bruised
  • 3 to 4 fresh makrut lime leaves, torn and bruised
  • 1/3 cup paper thin coins of fresh galangal
  • 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, cut into bite-sized pieces (see note)
  • 3 to 4 bird's eye chilies, sliced
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup juice from 3 to 4 limes

Directions

  1. Prepare udon noodles according to package instructions; drain and set aside.

  2. Place coconut milk, vegetable broth, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal in a 2-quart saucepan set over medium heat. Bring mixture to a very gentle boil; reduce heat so the liquid barely simmer. Allow the broth to infuse for 2 minutes.

  3. Add mushrooms to the broth; adjust heat so mixture comes back to a gentle boil. Add prepared noodles to the pot; heat through. Remove pot from heat. Add sliced chilies while the soup is still hot. Season to taste with salt and 1/4 cup of lime juice. Adjust seasoning with more salt and lime juice as required, and serve immediately.

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