Here’s a flavor-packed way to perk up any leftover chicken hanging around the fridge: give it new life with a creamy coconut milk base, a blend of spicy Thai seasonings, and plenty of lime juice for extra zing.
It only takes a few minutes, so it’s perfect for busy nights when you don’t really want leftovers but still need something to keep you going.
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To make the seasoning, you’ve got two options. Some stores carry pre-mixed Thai seasoning; this is more convenient, but it’s also more expensive.
If you’re willing to spend a few extra minutes or can’t find any Thai seasoning otherwise, I’ve also listed ingredients to make your own blend – it’s not complicated, just an extra step.
This soup is also an easy way to hide some vegetables if you are (or if you’re cooking for) a vegetable hater. There’s even broccoli in it, but when it’s shredded and mixed with the rest of the soup, it doesn’t really feel like eating a bunch of “roughage.”
If you don’t have a food processor or box grater, or any other way to shred the vegetables, you can always make the soup with bigger chunks; it’ll just take longer to cook (test it by trying out a piece of vegetable; it should be tender but not mushy).
Serve your soup with pad Thai (or anything else that sounds good), and enjoy!
Coconut Lime Chicken Soup Recipe
Serves: 4 Prep: 20 min Cook: 20 min
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. cooked chicken, cut into pieces;
- 15 oz. coconut milk; (1 can + a few tablespoons)
- 3 cups chicken broth;
- ¼ cup lime juice;
- 3 medium carrots, shredded;
- 1 cup broccoli, shredded;
- 1 cup rutabaga, shredded;
- 2 tsp. Thai seasoning; (instructions below)
- 1 lime cut into wedges;
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper;
Ingredients for the Thai seasoning
- ½ tsp. curry powder;
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon;
- ¼ tsp. ginger;
- ¼ tsp. chili powder;
- ¼ tsp. paprika;
- ¼ tsp. salt;
Preparation
- Combine the chicken broth, coconut milk, lime juice, Thai seasoning, shredded vegetables, and chicken pieces in a large saucepan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, covered, for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are getting slightly tender.
- Serve warm with lime wedges.
📖 Recipe
Coconut Lime Chicken Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. cooked chicken cut into pieces
- 15 oz. coconut milk 1 can + a few tablespoons
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 3 medium carrots shredded
- 1 cup broccoli shredded
- 1 cup rutabaga shredded
- 2 tsp. Thai seasoning instructions below
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½ tsp. curry powder
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. ginger
- ¼ tsp. chili powder
- ¼ tsp. paprika
- ¼ tsp. salt
Instructions
- Combine the chicken broth, coconut milk, lime juice, Thai seasoning, shredded vegetables, and chicken pieces in a large saucepan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.2 lbs. cooked chicken, 15 oz. coconut milk, 3 cups chicken broth, ¼ cup lime juice, 3 medium carrots, 1 cup broccoli, 1 cup rutabaga, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, ½ tsp. curry powder, ¼ tsp. cinnamon, ¼ tsp. ginger, ¼ tsp. chili powder, ¼ tsp. paprika, ¼ tsp. salt, 2 tsp. Thai seasoning
- Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, covered, for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are getting slightly tender.
- Serve warm with lime wedges.1 lime cut into wedges
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