Tom Ka Gai Soup

Make this Tom Ka Gai recipe in five quick and easy steps.

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Tom Ka Gai Soup Recipe

We have a wonderful Thai restaurant in our small town called The Thai House. Not being an expert or even a novice with Thai food, I asked the owner to recommend something for my first order. She recommended Tom Ka Gai soup. It was LOVE at first TASTE! I’ve ordered it nearly every time we’ve eaten there since that first time. One day when I was in the grocery store I stumbled upon the Asian Food section and what do you know? There was a soup base made by “A Taste of Thai” for Tom Ka Gai soup! I made my first batch following the directions on the box and have since added my own special nuances to make it more like what the Thai House serves.

This soup is best made with a Tom Ka Gai Coconut Ginger Soup Base packet. You can buy the raw spices at an Asian store but you can’t eat any of them. Once they flavor the soup you have to pick them out before you eat it. So I buy the Tom Ka Gai spice packets from A Taste Of Thai. They are available online and are Non-GMO and Gluten and Trans Fat-Free AND each serving is only 2 carbs! The box comes with two packets. If you are fixing it for more than two people, I advise that you double the recipe. Add all the ingredients that I have added over the years. You won’t be sorry!

If you want to watch our Tom Ka Gai soup recipe video, you can find it at the end of this page. Read on to learn how to make this Tom Ka soup recipe! 

Tom Ka Soup Ingredients

To make this Tom Ka Gai recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1-1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken cut into thin strips (I like to buy boneless thighs and cut into strips)

• 2 packets of A Taste of Thai's Coconut Ginger Soup Base

• 2 cans of Thai Coconut Milk

• 2-14 oz. cans of chicken broth

• 1 cup cabbage coarsely chopped

• 1 coarsely chopped onion

• 2-3 ripe tomatoes cut into large chunks

• Cilantro for garnish

• Cooked rice (optional)

Many local grocery stores sell the soup base we used in this Tom Ka Gai recipe. If you can't find it at your local grocery store, you can buy the Coconut Ginger Soup Base online directly from A Taste of Thai's Amazon storefront.

Tom Ka Gai Recipe Directions

It takes about 30 minutes to make Tom Ka Gai soup. Make sure to gather all the Tom Ka soup ingredients before you get started. Plus, you’ll also need to get out a large pot. Once the soup is ready, you can serve it in bowls over about a ½ cup of cooked rice. It’s delicious!

Follow these simple directions to make our Tom Ka Gai recipe:

1. Heat Chicken Broth and Add Soup Base

In a large pot, heat chicken broth and add the Coconut Ginger Soup Base. Stir until the soup base is dissolved. 

2. Add Coconut Milk

Add the coconut milk to the pot. (Hint: the coconut milk usually solidifies somewhat in the can. Stir well to re-combine liquid and milk before putting it in the pot.)  

3. Add Chickens, Onions, and Cabbage

Once the liquid is boiling, add raw chicken strips into the pot. Keep pot boiling and add onion and cabbage. 

4. Reduce Heat and Simmer

Reduce heat to a steady simmer and continue to cook until vegetables are tender (5 to 10 minutes). Once the vegetables are tender, turn off the burner and remove it from the heat. Add the tomato chunks. Gently stir. 

5. Serve Over Rice and Enjoy

I like to serve the soup in bowls over white rice. Put about a ½ cup of cooked rice into the bowl and fill the rest with soup. Enjoy!

Bottom Line

Tom Ka Gai soup is a favorite to serve when we host dinner guests or just dinner for the Dirt Farmer and me. It is sweet enough that young kids will like it and hearty enough to satisfy adults as well. It is delicious and filling, especially when served in a bowl over a scoop of cooked white rice.

This soup stores well in the refrigerator for several days. It’s relatively fast and inexpensive to make. Why not give it a try? Let me know how you like our Tom Ka Gai soup recipe!