Soup Kitchen

Thailand's favorite soups- Tom Ka Gai (Chicken soup with coconut milk) and Tom Yum Kung(Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp)are available in sidewalk cafes as well as in upscale restaurants. The street side soups are likely to give you instant acid reflux, but that didn't stop me from trying it! Despite the oppressive heat, a bowl of hot spicy soup hit the spot...
Noodles in any form are well received in my household. Although I can't say the same for myself, there's something about a combination of soup and noodles that gets me hungry. I simmer my chicken stock with a generous chunk of ginger and garlic( smash them with a rolling pin first) throw in thinly sliced chicken and dress it up with scallions or shallots, cilantro and minced chilies. The kids clean it up pretty good. Lots of slurpy sounds accompany the sucking up of rice sticks.

Cream of Mushroom/ broccoli/ tomato, spinach or whatever is in your fridge. Cream soups are divine and a great way to use up wilted veggies in the fridge that are not good for much else. Most people shy away from cream soups especially if they have the muffin top thing going on. It is not necessary to smother the soup in cream; a dollop on top just as you serve it is enough to give it the right creamy texture.

Recipe for cream soup:

2 cups Vegetable of choice cut into small pieces

2 shallots diced

2 cups hot broth/stock

salt and pepper

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

2 teaspoons flour

1 cup hot milk

1. Melt the butter/margarine in a pot and saute the shallots. When they start to caramelize, add in the flour and cook over low heat till it changes color. This is called a roux and is the base for many sauces and soups.

2. Add in the the stock and whisk till all the lumps are gone then add in the vegetables and simmer covered till they are cooked. Using a hand-held blender or a food processor, blend the soup and strain it. Discard solids. Season and add the milk to the soup. Serve hot topped with croutons and a couple teaspoons of cream (optional)

Note: To make fresh croutons- Cut stale bread or bagels into small cubes and deep fry. Sprinkle over with dry crushed parsley (optional)