Gluten-Free Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

By Darlene Schmidt

Updated 06/07/19

Thai chicken noodle soup recipe

The Spruce

  • Total: 45 mins
  • Prep: 30 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yield: 2-3 bowls (2-3 servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
858 Calories
31g Fat
88g Carbs
64g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2-3 bowls (2-3 servings)
Amount per serving
Calories 858
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g 40%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 139mg 46%
Sodium 3132mg 136%
Total Carbohydrate 88g 32%
Dietary Fiber 16g 59%
Protein 64g
Calcium 417mg 32%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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.

Ingredients

  • 8 to 10 ounces dry flat Thai rice noodles (or other noodles of your choice)
  • 6 cups chicken broth (add bones if you have leftover roast chicken or turkey)
  • 1 to 2 fresh chicken breasts (or thighs, chopped into small pieces, or 1 to 2 cups leftover roast chicken or turkey)
  • 1 stalk lemongrass (finely sliced and minced, or 3 tabelspoons bottled or frozen prepared lemongrass)
  • 1 thumb-size piece galangal (or ginger, grated or sliced into thin strips)
  • 1 large carrot (sliced)
  • 3 to 4 kaffir lime leaves (or substitute 1 bay leaf)
  • 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 teaspoon chili sauce, or 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons fish sauce (to taste)
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup coconut milk
  • Dash white pepper (or black pepper, to taste)
  • 1/2 cup cilantro (also known as coriander)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Thai chicken noodle soup
    The Spruce

  2. Bring a large pot of water to just below a boil and add the noodles. Remove from heat and allow noodles to soak 5 to 8 minutes, or until soft but still chewy ("al dente").

    Noodles in pot
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  3. Drain and rinse briefly with cold water to keep from sticking.

    Drain and rinse
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  4. 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.

    Bring chicken stock to a boil
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  5. Allow soup to simmer for 5 to 6 more minutes, adding bok choy when chicken is nearly cooked.

    Allow soup to simmer
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  6. While continuing to simmer the soup, add the chili, garlic, lime juice, plus 2 tablespoons of the fish sauce. Stir well.

    Simmer the soup
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  7. Turn heat down to a minimum and add the coconut milk (add up to 1/3 cup for a creamier soup). Stir to incorporate.

    Turn heat down
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  8. 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 to 2 teaspoons sugar (to balance out the lime juice).

    Taste test the soup
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  9. 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 a homemade Nam Prik Pao Chili Sauce (homemade recipe) to give your soup an extra kick of spicy flavor.

    Place a generous amount of noodles in each bowl
    The Spruce 

  10. Enjoy!

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