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Run Eat Repeat

Thai Classic – Tom Kha Gai

Recipes

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26 Sep

The second challenge for Project Food Blog is called “The Classics”. You are supposed to choose a classic dish from another culture, something that’s outside your comfort zone.

Since my comfort zone is obviously eating chocolate almond butter right out of the jar I figured pretty much anything that required me to actually cook would be game. IMG_1335

Actually, I think Mexican food is my comfort zone so I wanted something different from that.

I brainstormed a few ideas, and finally decided to make something that uses coconut since I’m married to a coconut addict. It’s a real disease and he needs help.CR11

I made Tom Kha Gai – Thai Coconut soup. Since I wanted to make it authentic I had to make a trip to our local Asian market to get the ingredients. Shopping is usually my specialty, but it helps if you can read the labels. IMG_1508

IMG_1502  I also got distracted by this cleaning product. What is a Pon Pon and why have I not been washing mine? IMG_1506

Luckily I was able to recognize coconuts and the other required ingredients by sight and a little help from the workers. Bonus: Fresh coconuts were on sale! IMG_1501

And apparently you can buy dead porcupines here?IMG_1504

Anyways, I walked out of the market with everything I needed to make an amazing Thai classic.IMG_1534

The next problem was figuring out how to cook with these new ingredients. The recipe I used didn’t explain how exactly to cut the lemon grass. I took a guess and cut it in half to infuse the broth.IMG_1539

IMG_1544 

Despite my efforts to get away from my usual Mexican dishes, it seems a key ingredient in this soup is from Mexico. Represent!  IMG_1537

I chopped up the goods and added them to the broth. This dish was surprisingly easy to make once I got past the “thinly slice the ginger” part. I’m bad at slicing. IMG_1541I’m also bad at hacking apart coconuts.  I had to call in some help for that part. I wanted to use it as a serving bowl for my soup and this required a little extra arm power. IMG_1549

IMG_1550

Basically, you slice up the ingredients; juice the limes and simmer everything until all the flavors have melded together.

I garnished the soup with cilatro and served it in a coconut bowl. IMG_1561

I left the coconut meat in the coconut on purpose. I was hoping it would infuse the soup with a little extra flavor and it did!IMG_1563

My first attempt at a Thai Classic, Tom Kha Gai was a success!

IMG_1557 But, I think the resident coconut lover should be the judge of that…

IMG_1571

IMG_1572 I’ll take the empty coconut bowl as his approval 🙂IMG_1575

If you like my attempt at this dish you can vote here. Thanks!

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    34 Comments

    Previous Post: « Lazy Sunday?
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Scott says

      2010-09-29 at 12:40 pm

      You totally should have bought that durian!! Great job on the soup, awesome presentation!

      Reply
    2. @lickmyspoon says

      2010-09-29 at 7:48 am

      This is one of my favorite dishes, you’ve got my vote.

      Also, coconut addiction is a gift and a curse, and it’s not to be taken lightly… unless we’re talking about a souffle with coconut.

      Lick My Spoon

      Reply
    3. Elina (Healthy and Sane) says

      2010-09-29 at 2:31 am

      I went to an Asian store for my ingredients too – they are always so fun. I wish I had my camera – definitely lots of random stuff there.
      PS – just voted for you 🙂

      Reply
    4. Peggy says

      2010-09-28 at 10:42 pm

      Great post and definitely lovely pictures and presentation! You’ve definitely got my vote!

      Reply
    5. Leah says

      2010-09-28 at 5:05 pm

      LOVE that you served it IN a coconut! Score!

      Reply
    6. Heather says

      2010-09-28 at 4:22 pm

      Definitely an enjoyable post to read. 🙂

      Reply
    7. Spicy Green Mango says

      2010-09-27 at 11:25 pm

      Awe, you’re so cute! You served it all up in a coconut shell! Okay, this definitely deserves my vote 🙂

      Reply
    8. Lea @ Healthy Coconut says

      2010-09-27 at 11:19 pm

      You are married to a coconut lover? I’m engage and going to marry a coconut hater.

      I think I recognize that Asian store and I think that fruit you are carrying is called Durian 🙂 I love Thai food, especially their soups. I can’t wait to try this once it cools off around here.

      I don’t know what a Pon Pon is either?

      Reply
    9. Amy (Sing For Your Supper) says

      2010-09-27 at 8:00 pm

      Hilarious! I’m not sure what a Pon Pon is either!! LOL! You totally have my vote! 🙂

      Reply
    10. Lisa says

      2010-09-27 at 5:43 pm

      I think it’s great you went out of your comfort zone and tried something new! I love Asian markets. They have good stuff!

      Reply
    11. Brittney says

      2010-09-27 at 5:17 pm

      I love your idea! One of the best round 2’s I’ve seen 🙂 And I appreciate your Asian supermarket humor as well!

      Reply
    12. Sarah B says

      2010-09-27 at 3:58 pm

      Looks delicious! Just a quick question- How long did it take you to make the soup (minus the fancy coconut bowl)?

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2010-09-27 at 4:52 pm

        About 30 minutes because the flavors have to simmer together, but it was super easy 🙂

        Reply
    13. Amber K says

      2010-09-27 at 3:48 pm

      I feel like I’m the only person in the world who can’t stand coconut. lol

      But it looks so cool!

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2010-09-27 at 4:53 pm

        I don’t really like coconut either! This soup is one of the few things I’ll eat with coconut as a main ingredient.

        Reply
    14. Delishhh says

      2010-09-27 at 3:29 pm

      Nice work! And love the coconut bowl. You got my vote.

      Reply
    15. Glenn Jones says

      2010-09-27 at 3:03 pm

      You’re much more adventurous than I would ever be. Looks yummy!

      Reply
    16. Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says

      2010-09-27 at 5:03 am

      yum!!!!! This looks great, I will definitely be voting for you tomorrow 🙂

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2010-09-27 at 5:11 am

        Thanks! I’ve gotta give you a vote for your Greek masterpiece too 🙂

        Reply
    17. Carla in Sydney says

      2010-09-27 at 4:44 am

      Good work on the soup!
      I don’t like those durians….in my opinion they taste as bad as they smell!

      Reply
    18. Ashley says

      2010-09-27 at 3:47 am

      Your blog is very funny! (like in a really good way…) I kind of recently discovered it. I have been a loyal blog follower of a few blogs for awhile that I read all the time… Definitely adding yours to my list. Very relatable and funny….

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2010-09-27 at 6:08 pm

        Thanks Ashley! Welcome 🙂

        Reply
    19. Kat says

      2010-09-27 at 3:11 am

      I love your sense of humor! I appreciate reading your blog everyday.

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2010-09-27 at 5:08 am

        Thank you! I really appreciate this 🙂

        Reply
    20. Kristin @ FoodFash says

      2010-09-27 at 3:01 am

      Laughed the whole way through your post after the “Pon Pon” comment!!

      Reply
    21. Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat says

      2010-09-27 at 2:52 am

      I’m right there with your hubby as a coconut lover. Way to nail this dish on the first try! It looks delicious 🙂

      Reply
    22. Kianni says

      2010-09-27 at 2:07 am

      lol@ the durian. When I was little I used to thing they were dead puffer fish because they were in those little nets XP

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2010-09-27 at 6:08 pm

        Ha! Dead puffer fish is just as bad as how I thought it was a porcupine.

        Reply
    23. Tina says

      2010-09-27 at 1:25 am

      All of these posts are so fun to read. 🙂 How creative that you served it in the coconut bowl.

      Reply
    24. Exercise and Eat says

      2010-09-26 at 9:14 pm

      That looks like a beautiful dish! What a lucky lady to have such a supportive hus:)

      Reply
    25. Kristy @ KristyRuns says

      2010-09-26 at 7:53 pm

      Monica! I am so impressed! As a lover of eating foods in jars with fingers as well, this recipe would definitely qualify being out of my comfort zone. Y’all even got out the power tools! Excellent.

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2010-09-27 at 6:07 pm

        The power tools part was all Ben 🙂 I would have def cut myself.

        Reply
    26. Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum says

      2010-09-26 at 7:52 pm

      I love that you served it from a coconut bowl! So cute!

      Reply
    27. Evan says

      2010-09-26 at 7:32 pm

      So cool! I’m with Ben in coconut-loving. You definitely went out of your comfort zone and for that will be getting my vote 🙂

      Reply

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