Gluten Free Thai Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - the most comfort you can get in one bowl. Taken by D.Schmidt for About.com
  • 30 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins,
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yield: 2-3 bowls (2-3 servings)
Ratings (56)

By Darlene Schmidt

Updated 01/06/18

This so-soothing Thai version of a universal classic features rice noodles instead of wheat, with fragrant lemongrass and other fresh herbs adding lovely aromatic notes. It makes a wonderful dinner soup, and if you happen to have leftover roast chicken or turkey, you can throw in the leftovers.  Add some of your favorite vegetables, and you'll find this soup warms and enlivens.  Great if you're fighting off a cold or flu bug, or anytime you want a bowl of steaming comfort.

What You'll Need

  • 6 cups chicken broth (add bones if you have leftover roast chicken or turkey)
  • 1-2 fresh chicken breasts (or thighs, chopped into small pieces, or 1-2 cups leftover roast chicken or turkey)
  • 1 stalk lemongrass (finely sliced and minced, or 3 Tbsp. bottled or  frozen prepared lemongrass)
  • 3-4 kaffir lime leaves (or substitute 1 bay leaf)
  • 1 thumb-size piece galangal (or ginger, grated or sliced into thin strips)
  • 1 large carrot (sliced)
  • 4 bunches baby bok choy (separated, or other added vegetables of your choice: such as broccoli, mushrooms, Chinese cabbage
  • , celery, or spinach.)
  • 1 red chili (minced, or 1 tsp. chili sauce, or 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2-3 Tbsp. fish sauce (to taste)
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup coconut milk
  • Dash white pepper (or  black pepper, to taste)
  • 1/2 cup cilantro
  • 8-10 oz. dry flat Thai rice noodles (or other noodles of your choice)

How to Make It

  1. Bring a large pot of water to just below a boil and add the noodles. Remove from heat and allow noodles to soak 5-8 minutes, or until soft but still chewy ("al dente"). Drain and rinse briefly with cold water to keep from sticking.
  2. Using a large soup pot, bring chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Add the fresh or roasted chicken, lemongrass, galangal or ginger, carrot, whole lime leaves (plus chicken or turkey bones, if available). Boil on high for 1 minute, then turn heat down to medium and cover with a lid. Allow soup to simmer for 5-6 more minutes, adding bok choy when chicken is nearly cooked.
  1. While continuing to simmer the soup, add the chili, garlic, lime juice, plus 2 Tbsp. of the fish sauce. Stir well.
  2. Turn heat down to a minimum and add the coconut milk (add up to 1/3 cup for a creamier soup). Stir to incorporate.
  3. Taste-test the soup, adding more fish sauce until desired flavor/saltiness is reached (how much you will need depends on how salty your stock is). If it tastes too salty, add another squeeze or two of lime juice. Add more chili if not spicy enough, or more coconut milk if the soup is too spicy. If the soup is a little too sour for your taste, add 1-2 tsp. sugar (to balance out the lime juice).
  4. To serve, place a generous mound of noodles in each bowl, then top with the hot soup. Finish with a final sprinkling of pepper and fresh coriander. If desired, serve with Thai chili sauce, either store-bought or my own homemade Nam Prik Pao Chili Sauce (homemade recipe) to give your soup an extra kick of spicy flavor. Enjoy!
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 858
Total Fat 31 g
Saturated Fat 12 g
Unsaturated Fat 10 g
Cholesterol 139 mg
Sodium 3,132 mg
Carbohydrates 88 g
Dietary Fiber 16 g
Protein 64 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)