Thai Coconut Soup
Tom Kha Gai is a beloved Thai coconut soup known for its creamy, aromatic broth that balances sour, salty, sweet, and spicy flavors. Its key ingredients typically include chicken, coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and mushrooms, often finished with lime juice and fish sauce. It originates from Thailand and is a staple in both home cooking and restaurants worldwide.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This soup is relatively high in fat due to the coconut milk base, but it also provides a moderate amount of protein from the chicken. It offers essential nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and vitamins from the herbs and vegetables, with a typical serving containing around 200-300 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 190 kcal |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbs | 6 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 820 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 5 mg |
| Selenium | 12 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 180 mg |
| Magnesium | 30 mg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, Tom Kha Gai reflects the Thai culinary philosophy of balancing contrasting flavors and is often considered a comforting, medicinal dish due to the anti-inflammatory properties of ingredients like galangal and lemongrass. Nutritionally, the coconut milk provides healthy medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are easily digestible and can offer quick energy.
