Thai Soup Base
Thai Soup Base
2½ tablespoons butter
8 ounces galangal, peeled and large chop
1½ ounces red curry paste (mae ploy)
1½ onions, thinly sliced
1-2 garlic cloves, smashed
2 ounces lemongrass, chopped
1½ Thai chilies
¼ bunch cilantro
8 cups chicken stock
Melt butter in a large pot then add galangal and cook on a medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Add red curry paste and allow to toast for about a minute. Add onions then cover pot and cook on a low heat for about 8 minutes.
Make a sachet using the garlic, lemongrass, chilies and cilantro. Add chicken stock and sachet and let simmer for 25 minutes. Strain sachet and galangal.
Makes about 8 cups.
Nutrition values per cup: 130 calories, 9 g fat (5 g saturated), 7 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 6 g protein, 45 mg cholesterol, 135 mg sodium.
Chef Arnie Tellez, VTK, Chicago