Instant Pot Coconut Shrimp Soup (Tom Kha) Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Instant Pot

by: Urvashi Pitre

July8,2021

4.5

17 Ratings

  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 10 minutes
  • Serves 4

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Author Notes

From Instant Pot Fast & Easy: "This Thai-style soup is brothy, fragrant, and delicately flavored. While tom kha is typically made with chicken (in which case it’s known as tom kha gai), I like making it with shrimp as a change of pace. This soup reheats very well, and I find the flavors deepen over time. If you plan to serve it a day later, don’t add the shrimp until you’re just about ready to serve the soup. Instead, reheat the soup and add them for the last few minutes of cooking." —Urvashi Pitre

Test Kitchen Notes

COCONUT SHIRMP SOUP (TOM KHA) is excerpted from INSTANT POT FAST & EASY © 2019 by Urvashi Pitre. Photography © 2019 by Ghazalle Badiozamani. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 3 cupschicken broth or water
  • 1/2 poundmedium shrimp, peeled (tails left on) and deveined
  • 1 cupcanned straw mushrooms, undrained
  • 1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
  • 6 to 8 thin slices fresh ginger
  • 2 whole red Thai chiles (optional)
  • 2 tablespoonsfish sauce
  • 1 tablespoonminced fresh lemongrass
  • 1 teaspoonhoney
  • 1/2 teaspoonsalt
  • Grated zest of 1 lime
  • 1/4 cupfresh lime juice (from 2 or 3 limes)
  • Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
  • Lime wedges, for serving
Directions
  1. In the Instant Pot, combine the broth, shrimp, mushrooms and their liquid, half the coconut milk, the ginger, chiles (if using), 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce, the lemongrass, honey, and salt.
  2. Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve. Select MANUAL and set the pot at LOW pressure for 1 minute. At the end of the cooking time, quick release the pressure.
  3. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon fish sauce, remaining coconut milk, the lime zest, and lime juice.
  4. Divide the soup among four serving bowls. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges alongside for squeezing.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Marie Yogini Savundranayagam

  • Urvashi Pitre

  • Scott Lewis

  • Erinfett

Dr. Urvashi Pitre is the President of a global marketing consulting firm, as well as the author of several best-selling cookbooks.

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12 Reviews

Erinfett December 4, 2021

Thoughts on sautéing the shrimp before putting it in the instant pot to get a little more flavor? Is this a bad idea haha?

neenagoswamy January 4, 2021

Really great and SO easy! We followed everything as said and it turned out great. I would like to add more vegggies but not sure what the INstant pot timing should be in that case given the shrimp? Would love to know!

melanie October 30, 2020

Just as described - light, very flavorful, delicious! How would you modify cooking time if using chicken? (Also wondering if you’d throw in the raw chicken at the same time as the other ingredients). Thank you!

Urvashi P. October 31, 2020

So cut up the chicken into bite size pieces and then cook for 2 mins under pressure and 5 mins NPR and it will be delicious!

melanie November 1, 2020

Thank you!

Marie Y. January 7, 2020

Tried this recipe but it requires adjustments. I sauteed one sliced onion, sliced mushrooms (around 8 oz), lemongrass, and two teaspoons of red curry paste prior to adding the other ingredients. It turned out really well.

Krystallynne January 7, 2020

Do you need an instant pot to cook this?

Urvashi P. January 11, 2020

Fair question. Need? Maybe not. Does it infuse the broth with a lot more flavor with a lot less work and faster? Indeed it does.

liliana December 23, 2020

I fully agree. Do not really understand the hot trend for the instant pot.
It takes up space while stove-top results are lovingly tastier.

Cindy January 4, 2020

Why would you use an instant pot for this? Wouldn't it be simpler to just cook it on the stove and let it simmer a while?

Scott L. October 3, 2020

Simpler? It’s one pot to clean either way. It’s be slower. To each their own though.

Patti May 26, 2019

We loved this. 2nd time I made it with bunch of shredded gai lan added after opening the instant pot and before the lime, fish sauce,etc. Let it sit covered 5 min and then added final ingredients: one pot deliciousness

Instant Pot Coconut Shrimp Soup (Tom Kha) Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Is Tom Kha soup good for a cold? ›

Ginger, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, and lemongrass support your immune system. So the soup is perfect during the cold and flu season, for recovery from an illness, or just for boosting immunity and preventing infections. There are many variations to Tom Kha soup, and this recipe is my take on the classic.

What to eat with Tom Kha soup? ›

It makes a fantastic lunch or starter, or you can serve it with a bowl of boiled rice for dinner. Take a spoonful of rice and dunk it in the soup. Bliss! There's a fantastic Thai restaurant up the road from me – which is where I was introduced to Tom Kha Gai.

What is the difference between Tom Kha and Tom Yum soup? ›

Tom Yum is much spicier, and has a clear broth. Tom Kha uses coconut milk to stabilize and mellow the flavors, making it both sweeter and slightly heavier. While both soups can be made with a variety of proteins, tom yum usually calls for shrimp, while tom kha is commonly made with chicken.

What is the best Thai soup to eat when sick? ›

Tom yum soup, also known as hot and sour soup, is a Thai soup that has just as many — if not more — healing properties as your Grandma's chicken soup. Some even call Tom Yum “the miracle soup”. I believe it. Tom Yum can help you feel better fast, faster than chicken noodle soup.

What does tom kha mean in English? ›

Tom Yum Goong Nam Sai from The Local (Michelin Bib Gourmand) Tom kha. Now that we've established that “tom” means “boiling a broth”, knowing that “kha” means galangal will quickly help us understand that this soup's main ingredient is the galangal (don't confuse it with “king” or ginger now!).

What is the difference between tom kha and Tom Kha Kai? ›

Perhaps you have seen “Tom Kha Gai” on the menu at Thai restaurants- “Tom Kha” means galangal (flavorful relative of ginger) soup and “Tom Kha Gai” refers to the chicken version of the soup. And “Tom Yum” refers to a different Thai soup that has a tomato base instead of coconut milk.

Does Tom Kha soup permanently increase energy? ›

Is the increase permenant? No, it's temporary. The only way to permanently increase your max energy is to eat stardrops.

Is Thai food good for a cold? ›

Garlic, ginger, and turmeric

Garlic is useful in aiding colds because of its decongestant and antioxidant properties. Ginger fights inflammation and soothes sore throats. Turmeric is one of the most common ingredients in Thai food, and when combined with ginger, is like a double threat to the common cold.

Is Thai soup good for cough? ›

Many Thais who swear by the soup as a cold fighter champion the diuretic and antimicrobial properties of lemongrass, the expectorant qualities of galanga root and the cough suppressant and digestive aid of the lime, basil and shallots. Additionally, they believe the heat and chilies help you sweat the cold out.

Which Thai curry is best for a cold? ›

This light, creamy, spicy green Thai curry will accomplish all the above and more! I made it light, hearty, and filled with lots of ginger, lemon and chicken. THOSE are the key ingredients to fight inflammation, bacteria, viruses, sore throat, and fevers.

What kind of soup is good for sick? ›

Chicken Soup

There's a reason that chicken soup has been recommended as a cure for the common cold for hundreds of years. It's easy to eat, a great source of vitamins, minerals, calories, and proteins.

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