Thai recipes are not supposed to be vegetarian. They like their seafood and their meat, and create magic with it.

Vegetarian Thai Tom Kha Soup
Instructions:
1. Discard the bottom 2 inches of the lemongrass. Discard the top woody part and use the middle portion (about 8″ of it) for the soup. Cut this part into small circles and set aside.
2. Roughly chop the galangal, chillies, and shallots. Tear the limes leaves into two.
3. Bring water or vegetable stock to a boil and lower fire to a simmer. Add the galangal, lemongrass, shallots, chillies, sugar, and lime leaves. Keep on simmer for 5-7 minutes.
4. Add the coconut milk and the tofu and mushrooms with some salt. Keep on simmer for another 7-10 minutes until the mushrooms are soft.
5. Remove from fire. Squeeze in fresh lime starting with half a lime and then increasing the quantity as you like. Garnish with roughly torn coriander leaves / cilantro. Serve hot.
I forgot to mention this – I live in North Carolina in the US.
Your recipe looks delicious, and I have always loved this soup when I ate it in restaurants! My question is – I am not sure if I can find these things here or where to find them other than in an Oriental store – can you give me some substitutes for galangal, lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves? I guess I can use ginger for galangal, even though you say it is not the same, but what about the other two?
My Fav. Thai Soup…Nice Pictures!
Soup looks great and love the soup bowl.. I have similar bowls.
That soup bowl is making me dizzy too …WOW !!
Here is delhi too we get that kit with all fresh galalngal, lemon grass n kaffir lime leaves , and those pastes too if we are lucky sometimes 🙂
I am growing my own lemon grass and i use grapefruit leaves to substitute kaffir lime leaves…galangal off course has to be there n i have to buy that..
finished bowl is very appetizing tom kha gai with chick is my fav…wouldn't say no for veg version also!
Hi Nags
Yummy looking soup. First time to your space. Loved it. And thanks for all that food photography tips. Never knew we could do so much with Photoshop.
Do stop by my space when time permits.:)
Thanks
Very Appetizing!
Papacheong
http://home-cook-dishes-for-family.blogspot.com/
Oh wow!! that looks so comforting and delicious!!
Samarpita, that's a great tip. Thanks!!
Oh, the soup bowl!!! The soup and soup bowl together is making me dizzy with greed. On another note, Fairprice has a bottled Tom Yum paste (Fairprice brand), which is vegetarian. I have read the ingredients many times over. The taste is really good.
Thanks for the veggie version… the bowl looks great!
looks yum Nag, I love Thai soup.
Very Interesting
ummm looks so comforting,will try this sometime,
Your soup looks beautiful! I've been hunting for a good Tom Kha soup for ages and ages, ever since trying it in a thai restaurant nearby. Definitely giving this a shot over the weekend, thank you! 😀
I love Thai flavors! And I so agree with you about ginger not being a substitute for galangal. There's a citrus kind of freshness to galangal that the freshets of ginger cannot replace!
The Tom Kha set reminds me of the Sambar sets we get here–they even include a sprig of curry leaves!
Bookmarked to try.
Yummy delicious soup dear,my fav too…But never tried at home…Sure will try it.
I came in just to see the soup bowl that Saks mentioned today during lunch. It is indeed very cute. :-). Once I go back, I have start working on my props again. Gave all of them away today. :-(.
Siri
SIri, i see that as an opportunity! imagine all the shopping you can do 🙂
Delicious soup 🙂
Sakshi! I thought of you so much when I was setting up for the photo. Fun times indeed 🙂 can't wait to come back!!
Yes, even I'm all praises for the bowl…and the soup as well…:)
Yumm, wat a wonderful looking bowl of comforting and flavourful soup,inviting..
Looks very authentic Nags, and loveeee the bowl!
Nags, that looks mouth watering. I would so love to have that soup 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂 all these smileys exclusively just for the soup bowl 🙂 🙂 🙂 It reminds me of the good times we had together.
Haa what to say about the soup? I think I will definitely sneak in a piece or two of both chicken and mushrooms. I love the way Thai soups are flavored and now you say its bcoz of that look alike of ginger??
delicious soup … love ur clicks too..
oh looks like such a delight! making this soon… managed to find galangal in hyd recently
I love this soup..its like a complete burst of flavors..:)
Such a unique recipe you are too good
yummy yummy soup….
Yummy looking soup, beautiful pics
wow..looks creamy and yumm..am sure coconut milk does give a delicious flavour and taste to the soup..