I love remaking some of my favorite dishes from restaurants. This one comes from my favorite restaurant in Birmingham – yes you guessed it, Surin. For the 10 years I have been going to this restaurant my order never changes (well except for the 9 months of pregnancy I could not have sushi). I get a volcano roll which is spicy tuna and cucumber on the inside and tuna, avocado, eel sauce on the outside with the best spicy aioli ever made. I also get an order of crab angels (also known as crab rangoon).
But one of the things I love most is the complimentary bowl of Coconut Tofu Soup that comes out before the meal.
I knew I had to reinvent this dish since I could enjoy it during our monthly visits back home. I mean let’s be honest I was indulging in this meal probably once a week when we were living there. After perfecting the recipe I decided to kick it up a notch by making it a little spicy. So feel free to omit some of the chili oil if you want it a little less spicy.
Spicy Coconut Soup
Ingredients
- 6 lemongrass stalks remove lower bulb & outer sheath and cut into 3 inch pieces*
- 1 1/2 tsp. fresh ginger minced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 3 Tbsp. Thai red curry paste you can find this in the ethnic food section; use half of this amount if you want a less spicy soup
- 3 Tbsp. fish sauce ethnic food section
- 6 c. chicken stock
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 can unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 Tbsp. lime juice
- 2 tsp. red pepper oil/ red chili oil (ethnic food section use half of this amount if you want a less spicy soup or substitute olive oil
- 4 ounces of mushrooms
- 2 scallions
- Tofu cut into small cubes optional
Instructions
- Heat chili oil in a stockpot on medium -low heat. Add lemongrass (or lemon zest), garlic and ginger. Cook. Stirring constantly so it won't burn for 30-60 sec until it becomes aromatic. Add curry paste, cook for about 30 sec.
- Add 3 cups of chicken stock to dissolve the curry paste. Stir until it dissolves. Add remaining stock, fish sauce, and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Once it starts boiling reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- If adding mushrooms, add about 5 min before next step. If adding tofu cook as directed on package then add in.
- Stir in coconut milk and lime juice. Cook for 5 min. Remove lemongrass with strainer, if you used this.
Notes
did you make this recipe?
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Are you like me – do you have a favorite dish at a restaurant that you always order and vow to never try anything else again?
Comments & Reviews
Heather says
Any suggestions for fish sauce replacement? I know surin’s recipe is fish sauce free because I have a deadly allergy and have asked.
Lynne Feifer says
Heather, I would suggest using soy sauce as the fish sauce replacement.
Thanks for your question and hope that helps!
Stephanie Reilly says
We lived in bham for years and have missed this soup and the pad Thai basil. This recipe is spot on, we loved it. We didn’t use the mushrooms, which i missed, but my husband hates them.
Lynne Feifer says
Stephanie, that is so wonderful to hear, thank you! I’m thrilled that it brought back some wonderful memories and that you took the time to let me know. It means a lot.