Ingredients
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3 (13 1/2 ounce) cans low-sodium low-fat chicken broth
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1 (13 1/2 ounce) can coconut milk (regular, not lite)
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2 stalks lemongrass, sliced in large pieces
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2 tablespoons fish sauce
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1 tablespoon shrimp paste (use anchovy paste as a substitute)
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1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
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1 tablespoon white vinegar
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2 tablespoons ginger, julienned in fine,short 1/4 inch strips
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4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
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2 tablespoons brown sugar
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2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed in very small pieces
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8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
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1 bunch bok choy, chopped
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2 tomatoes, diced
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6 ounces bean thread noodles, presoaked in hot water
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1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (leave the stems in!)
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1 -2 tablespoon lime juice, to taste (probably)
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3 limes, juice of
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3 limes, zest of
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3 serrano chili peppers, chopped
Instructions
- In 4qt or larger, heavy-bottomed pot, begin heating chicken broth and coconut milk on low-medium heat.
- Add the other ingredients for the broth, down through the brown sugar, as you prepare them.
- Bring broth to a slow simmer; never allow it to reach a rolling boil, and do not cover it at any time during cooking.
- When broth is simmering, begin adding remaining ingredients starting with the chicken, as you prepare them in the order listed, stirring regularly.
- Make sure the chicken is fully cooked by the time you add the cilantro--if you cube the chicken finely enough and use a normal length of time preparing the vegetables, this should not be an issue, but allow it to simmer a few extra minutes if necessary before adding the cilantro.
- About a minute after adding the cilantro, taste the soup and add some additional lime juice as desired to punch up the flavor (maybe 1-2 T--don't overdo it!).
- Serve immediately.