Coconut Curry Chicken Soup

★★★☆☆
Prep: 35 mins Cook: 50 mins Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1½ pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, excess skin and fat trimmed (about 2 breasts)
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 2 cups chopped yellow onion
  • 1 cup chopped peeled carrot
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste (such as Maesri)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced (about 4 teaspoons)
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
  • 5 cups lower-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1½ cups uncooked extra-wide egg noodles
  • 1 (13.66-ounce) can unsweetened coconut cream
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • Fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

  1. 1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high until shimmering. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1 teaspoon salt.
  2. 2. Add chicken, skin side down, to Dutch oven; cook, undisturbed, until browned, 2 to 4 minutes per side, adjusting heat as needed to prevent overbrowning. Transfer chicken to a large plate, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in Dutch oven; discard remaining drippings.
  3. 3. Add onion, carrots, and celery to Dutch oven; cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until just softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add curry paste, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 15 to 20 seconds.
  4. 4. Stir in broth and turmeric, scraping up any browned bits on bottom of Dutch oven; bring to a boil over medium-high, then reduce to a simmer over medium-low. Return chicken and any accumulated juices on plate to Dutch oven. Cover and simmer, undisturbed and adjusting heat as needed to maintain a simmer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165°F, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a clean large plate.
  5. 5. Bring broth mixture to a boil over medium-high. Add noodles, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt; partially cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until noodles are al dente, about 5 minutes.
  6. 6. While noodles cook, shred chicken; discard skin and bones.
  7. 7. Uncover Dutch oven and reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Add shredded chicken along with coconut cream, lime juice, and fish sauce, stirring until well combined. Add more lime juice to taste. Divide evenly among 6 bowls. Garnish with cilantro.
Make ahead: The soup base can be made up to two days in advance; store separately from the noodles and add freshly cooked noodles when reheating for best texture. A cozy-meets-vibrant creamy chicken soup with Thai red curry flavor and tender egg noodles.
Wine Pairing: Aromatic White