Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup + Lowfat Soup Secrets

I love Thai food and flavors. When I was traveling in Thailand, the broths and soups were so delicious I just wanted to drink them, forget the spoon!

With all the many great jarred curry pastes available (typically in the Asian section of your grocery store) these glorious Thai soups are a cinch. This Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup recipe has got to be the easiest one you’ll ever make. It tastes like that warming bowl of coconut and curry broth from your favorite Thai restaurant. It’s also low-fat, low-calorie, and high in protein. A great dinner for DETOX month, after the holidays.

I was a picky kid, and often had to eat around things I didn’t like. I’m still not a fan of certain foods and my heart goes out for kids all over who may be sitting in front of a bowl of shrimp soup, and can’t stomach shrimp! My mom might disagree, after all she is “not a short-order cook” as she liked to remind me; but I am fine if every once in a while you throw your kid a bone and adjust a recipe so they can enjoy it! LOL! I offered a kid-ifying option for my Chicken Tomato Bisque as well.

I swap the shrimp for chicken or tofu for a change (and to kid-ify this recipe if you need to). Both options cook in just a few minutes and keep this soup prep to under 30 minutes.

LOW FAT SOUP SECRETS
If you’re on a soup kick but want to keep the calories in check, take into consideration some of these low-fat soup secrets!

•For creamy soups, replace heavy cream with whole or evaporated milk.
•Try using smashed white beans or mashed potatoes instead of butter and flour as thickeners.
•Choose lean cuts of meat; try turkey bacon or chicken sausage.
•If you need more moisture when you’re cooking vegetables, add fat-free broth in place of butter or oil.
•Use canned low-sodium broth instead of water to add flavor to soup that doesn’t have a lot of time to simmer and cook.

5 from 1 vote

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Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup

Work Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

25 mins

 

Never tried Thai cooking? This mildly spicy dish will turn you into a huge fan.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Thai Coconut shrimp soup

Yield: 5 cups

Calories: 270 kcal

Ingredients

• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 14- oz can unsweetened light coconut milk
• 1 tsp red curry paste
• 1 tbsp fish sauce nahum plah
• 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 clove garlic crushed
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup 4 oz green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3/4 lb medium shrimp peeled and deveined
• 2 scallions thinly sliced
• Lime wedges
• Cilantro for garnish

Instructions

1. In a medium pot over medium-high heat, combine chicken broth, coconut milk, curry paste, fish sauce, ginger, garlic and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
2. Add green beans and cook 2 min. Add shrimp and cook until pink, 5 min. Top soup with scallions and serve with lime.

Recipe Notes

If you'd like you can swap the shrimp for thinly sliced chicken breast or even diced tofu. To make it completely pescatarian (not vegetarian because of the fish sauce) use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.

Nutrition Facts

Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 270 Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 20g 31%

Saturated Fat 16g 80%

Cholesterol 171mg 57%

Sodium 1099mg 46%

Potassium 433mg 12%

Total Carbohydrates 6g 2%

Sugars 1g

Protein 19g 38%

Vitamin A 7.1%

Vitamin C 9%

Calcium 13.1%

Iron 26.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe by Tara Bench
Originally published in Ladies’ Home Journal Feb 2009
Photography: Sang An
Prop Stylist: Tiziana Agnello
Food Stylist: Jee Levin