This easy Spicy Thai Red Curry Soup is incredibly versatile - use any vegetables you like, tofu or other proteins, and even rice noodles! And it's 100% vegetarian and vegan friendly too.
Soup Week
It's Soup Week on Oh My Veggies!
Now, before you get all impressed, you should know that the reason this week is Soup Week is because I've spent the past two weeks sick and I haven't wanted to eat much other than soup.
So this is less about me being an amazing, creative food blogger and more about me having a raging cold. But anyway, Soup Week! Yay!
Why Thai Curry Soup?
My favorite local Thai restaurant serves the most delicious Thai Red Curry Soup with their lunch specials.
Like most lunch special soups, there's not much to it - broth and usually 4–5 cubes of tofu, about the same number of sliced mushrooms, and a scant teaspoon of thinly sliced scallions.
But that's okay, because the best part is the broth anyway. It's a little bit spicy, a tiny bit sweet, and incredibly fragrant from the combination of coconut milk and red curry paste.
Mmmmm... so good. This has quickly become one of my favorite vegetarian Thai recipes.
I've made a soup similar to this with summer veggies and green curry paste in the past, and I thought I could switch out the green curry with red and I'd get something pretty close to the Thai restaurant Red Curry Soup.
It was really close, but the missing piece of the puzzle was a little bit of brown sugar. Then it was perfect.
If you choose not to use the brown sugar, this recipe is still good, don't get me wrong! But the sugar adds just a touch of sweetness that mimics the red curry broth in restaurant soups.
After going through all the work of making this, I realized that, other than the red curry, this is pretty similar to the Coconut Lime Tofu Soup I posted last year. (And I even mentioned the Thai restaurant in that post too.)
I blame this on the fact that after staying up three nights in a row , I was operating in a sleep-deprived state.
But let's not dwell on that. Let's dwell instead on the awesomeness that is this Thai Red Curry Soup.
Helpful Tips
The question I get most often is about the red curry paste. You are looking for the kind that comes in a jar and is typically in the international food aisle at the grocery store. I specifically use this one.
Make sure you use firm or extra firm tofu - anything else will be too soft and fall apart in your soup.
Be sure to use coconut milk here - not coconut cream. They are indeed two different ingredients. I used the lite coconut milk for a little less fat.
I used simple white mushrooms here, but you can swap them for something more exotic like shiitake or oyster mushrooms if you prefer.
As for the vegetable broth, I prefer to use homemade vegetable stock. But you can use your own favorite brand for a quicker preparation.
More Recipes
And if you love this Thai Red Curry Soup, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes:
Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1- inch ginger peeled and cut into slices
- 8 oz white mushrooms sliced
- 14 oz firm tofu cut into bite-sized cubes
- 14 oz lite coconut milk canned
- 3 tbsp Thai red curry paste
- 2 tsp brown sugar optional
For Serving (optional)
- green onions sliced
- fresh cilantro chopped
- fresh basil chopped
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Bring broth and ginger to a boil over high heat.
- Once broth has come to a boil, use a slotted spoon to remove ginger.
- Add mushrooms and tofu and reduce heat to medium-low; cook about 5 minutes, or until mushrooms are softened.
- Stir in coconut milk, curry paste, and brown sugar.
- Remove from heat and ladle into bowls; serve with green onions, cilantro, basil, and lime wedges.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I'll bet I'd really love that flavor because I LOVE red curry paste!
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Oh yeah, blame Miso for Ice loves Coco! 😉
Kiersten says
That cat, he loves his reality TV!
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
I've never made a Thai curry recipe at home - of any kind - and have been mulling it of late. This one looks so simple and easy - I love that! I'm thinking maybe for lunch this week.
And as far as Ice Loves Coco goes, how could Miso not love it? I mean, hello, that's a heckuva charismatic bulldog. You can't look away.
Kiersten says
Miso was also really concerned about whether Coco moving to Las Vegas would break up her marriage to Ice-T.
Jessi says
Sorry you have been sick :(! It's that time of year I suppose. I don't know how cold it is where you are, but my Cold Remedy is a stiff Hot Toddy's (http://cocktails.about.com/od/cocktailrecipes/r/httdy_ht.htm).
This soup sounds amazing! And as always, beautiful photography!
Kiersten says
It's funny, I had heard of Hot Toddies before, but last week was the first time I heard of someone using them as a cold remedy. And then you mentioned it too! It must be a sign--I should really make myself one, huh? 🙂
Jessi says
You really should! Get all snuggly, pop in a good movie and drink some hot Jamesons!
Pri says
Hi Kiersten, I am so happy I saw this recipe. I have my panang curry recipe - http://www.recipris.com/2012/05/01/panang/ - but I do not use veggie broth. I am thinking of switching out 1 can of coconut milk for veggie broth to make a soup. Thanks for the idea and I will let you know how it goes! 🙂
Kiersten says
I'm sure it will be amazing! I'm going to have to check out your panang curry recipe--that's my husband's favorite. 🙂
Jenn says
Yay for soup week! My mom would love this one.
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
I've been craving Thai curry soup lately (any colour) and have a ton of curry paste to use up so I really need to get on this! Love that this version uses so few ingredients (but will still taste great!)
Kiersten says
Yeah, I know a lot of Thai soup recipes have a laundry list of ingredients, but I was so sick--I wanted to keep it simple. 😉
Jeanette says
Thai red curry and coconut milk are one of my favorite combinations in curries and soups - perfect for these chilly winter days! Happy New Year Kiersten!
Kiersten says
Happy New Year to you too! I hope 2013 is a great year for you and your family (and your blog)! 🙂
Aleks says
omg! it must be awesome. I love coconut milk it's so soft and delicious. Few days ago I prepared your Masala Chai Breakfest shake - you may check 🙂 It was really delicious!
Kiersten says
I will check it out--I'm glad you enjoyed it! 😀
Jad @ New South says
Yum! Can't wait to make this!
Freda Love Smith says
This looks delicious! I happen to have green curry paste in the fridge - would it substitute well for a thai green curry soup??
Kiersten says
Yes! I've actually made this with green curry paste before and while the end result tastes a lot different, it's still delicious. 🙂 It does benefit from some lime juice to boost the flavor, though.
Freda Love Smith says
Thanks! And I just happen to have an odd lime in the fridge too, so it's meant to be.
Dee @ Cocktails with Mom says
I could use a nice warm bowl of this right now. Lovely bowls also.
JulieD says
I need some of this right now!!! UGH, I hate being sick. Hope you're starting to feel better...too bad we don't live close, we could have watched movies together or something. 🙂
Kiersten says
Movies & soup! This is seriously one of the worst colds I've ever had. It just won't go away. I hope you feel better soon too!
a farmer in the dell says
YAY for soup week! I love soup so naturally I am super stoked if you post soup recipes everyday! This looks like a keeper. Red curry and coconut milk are a great combo! yum
Kiersten says
Well you're in luck because if this cold doesn't go away, it might turn into Soup Month. 🙂
Bernadette @ Now Stir It Up says
I love how simple it its. Great for those nights when cooking isnt on my to-do list. I also LOVE the bowls in your picture. So cute.
Kiersten says
Thank you! I got the bowls from Crate & Barrel--I had wanted them for a while and never bought them, but then they went on clearance and I snatched them up. 🙂
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
love this girl! Happy new year!!
Kiersten says
Happy New Year to you too!
Andrea says
Ooh, I love Thai food! My favorite is Pad Thai and I occasionally make that at home. I'll put this soup on next week's meal plan. Thanks for the recipe!
Kiersten says
Pad Thai is my favorite too! I always need to order that when we go to Thai restaurants. 🙂
Meg @ Beard and Bonnet says
I am so sorry that you have been sick! That really sucks...but I do LOVE soup so for whatever reason I am glad it's soup week. This soup looks and sounds so delicious, I am going to have to add it to my line up of recipes to try over the next few weeks.
Kiersten says
Yeah, I love soup when I'm healthy too. 🙂 Especially during winter! I hope you like the soup if you make it!
Lysa says
I've been sick also lately and soups are the only thing tempting for the moment ! This soup looks delicious, Red curry is so good! I would love it with mushrooms too !
Kiersten says
I hope you feel better soon!
ashley - baker by nature says
wow! this soup is such a beauty!!!
Elizabeth Atwood says
I'm impressed! Sick or not you're still creating soups. When I'm sick it's all I can do to pour a can of soup into a pot and warm it up! It sounds yummy!
Kiersten says
Ha! If it wasn't for this whole food blog thing, I totally would have been doing that. 😉
Stephanie @ henry happened says
I'm so excited for soup week! I've been sick too (along with the kiddos) and cooking is the last thing on the to do list. I hope you - and Miso - are feeling better. I've never tried cooking with curry paste but Thai is definitely a winner when I'm congested, ha!
Kiersten says
I love curry paste! It's the easiest way to make Thai food. You can skip all the herbs and lemongrass and lime leaves and just add some curry paste to coconut milk and you're pretty much set. 🙂
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
That sounds so light and flavorful!
Laura (GotChocolate) says
Holy cow that seriously looks SO good! I love curry too, but I have to admit I've never had red curry paste. Must get some this weekend and make this. 😀
Kiersten says
One of my favorite chocolate shops used to sell Thai peanut butter cups with red curry and coconut milk mixed in the peanut butter. It sounds disgusting, but they were SO GOOD.
Courtney Rae Jones says
Wow! I'm so impressed 🙂 I honestly am the biggest suck when I'm sick and refuse to even look at a pot or pan. *hah* I hope you are feeling better! *curative hugs* This soup looks fantastic. I am betting the flavour of the soup alone would have extra awesome healing properties! 🙂
Kiersten says
I wish I could have taken time off from cooking last week! I had a huge project to work on, so I actually had to cook MORE than usual. Not fun!