This Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup recipe is easy to make at home and tastes like takeout! If you want a creamy and cozy noodle soup with Thai red curry spice, coconut milk, and tons of flavor, this recipe is for you.
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This recipe is inspired by one of my favorite Thai restaurants, Pok Pok, which sadly went out of business this year. My Crispy Baked Asian Chicken Wings are also inspired by the wings at Pok Pok.
This recipe uses authentic Thai Red Curry but I put an American spin on it based on the ingredients I think people are more likely to have in their kitchens. The great thing about most recipes is that you can add what you like and remove what you don't.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's delicious and tastes similar to takeout Khao Soi!
- It only takes 30 minutes to get this on the table.
- It's inexpensive to make.
- This is a perfect recipe if you have leftover chicken to use.
- There are a lot of different flavors and textures to this dish that all blend together perfectly.
- You can control the spiciness of this dish by adding more or less red curry paste. Adding more broth or fish sauce will also tone it down.
Key Ingredients For This Recipe
- Chicken Breasts or Thighs - I usually use chicken breasts when I make this recipe since I always have them in my freezer. Chicken thighs are also a good choice because of the higher fat content and flavor.
- Thai Red Curry Paste - This paste has become a staple in my house because of its burst of flavor and spice. A little goes a long way so if you are sensitive to spice, add a little at a time.
- Coconut Milk - Use full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and texture.
- Fish Sauce - A traditional ingredient in this recipe, fish sauce adds salt and flavor. If you don't have or want to use fish sauce, soy sauce will also work.
- Rice Noodles - Rice noodles are easy to prepare and have the perfect texture for this soup. Don't forget to soak them in water first or they will soak up all of the broth before serving instead.
*See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
What is Thai Red Curry?
Thai red curry comes in paste form and can be found at Asian grocery stores and now even in most large grocery stores in the Asian food section. It's made from dried red chilies so it does have a heat spice to it.
According to Wikipedia: "The base Thai red curry paste is traditionally made with a mortar and pestle. The main ingredients include (dried) red chili peppers, garlic, shallots, galangal, shrimp paste, salt, kaffir lime leaves, coriander root, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, peppercorns and lemongrass."
How to Make Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
Place the rice noodles in a bowl of hot water to soften. Make sure you do this first!
Add the chicken to the pan with 1 tablespoon sesame oil and cook until done. Add the broccoli and the rest of the sesame oil and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove the chicken and broccoli from the pan and set aside.
Place the red curry paste, garlic, and ginger in the pan. Over medium heat, stir everything together, and then add the broccoli and chicken back to the pan. Continue stirring so that everything is covered in the red curry paste mixture.
Pour in the coconut milk, broth, and soy sauce and stir everything together. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Drain the noodles into the soup.
Cover the pan and allow it to simmer for 3-4 minutes until the noodles are completely soft.
Other Ingredients You Could Use in This Red Curry Soup
The original version of this soup used Thai eggplant instead of broccoli and was served with pickled veggies and fresh chili sauce. As I mentioned, my goal was to create a dish that used more common ingredients. Here are some other ingredient suggestions you could use in these Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup.
- Thai eggplant or other eggplant varieties
- Carrots or zucchini would also hold up well in this soup
- Beef and pork are meat alternatives that are delicious in this soup
- If you want to skip the meat, add some tofu
- Cilantro, green onions, and lime are all great garnish alternatives
- Chili paste such as Sambal Oelek
How Long Does This Soup Last?
This noodle soup will last 3-4 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. When you reheat it, you may need to add a little water or broth if the soup has become too thick. This soup doesn't freeze well because of the rice noodles, so I would not recommend it.
More Asian-Inspired Recipes To Try
If you get a chance to make this Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup Recipe, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
Equipment
- Deep saucepan or pot
- large mixing bowl for the noodles
- another bowl or plate for chicken and broccoli
- Cutting board and knife
Ingredients
Red Thai Curry Soup
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 3-4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed and seasoned with salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 large head of broccoli, cut into pieces
- 2-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced or grated (see notes)
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- 1 13.5 ounce can coconut milk, full fat
- 2 cups chicken broth (can sub vegetable or beef broth)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or fish sauce
Toppings
- 1 cup chow mein noodles
- ⅓ cup shallot or red onion, diced
- 1 handful thai basil, sliced (or regular basil)
- 1 jalepeno, sliced (optional, for extra heat)
Instructions
- Place the rice noodles in a bowl of hot water so they can begin to soften while you are cooking.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cut into similar-sized cubes and place into a deep saucepan or large pan. Add 1 tablespoon sesame oil to the pan and cook the chicken all the way through. If you are using leftover chicken or chicken that is already cooked, add it to the pan with sesame oil to heat it and add extra flavor to it.
- Once the chicken has fully cooked, remove it from the pan, place it into a bowl, and set it aside. Add the broccoli and the rest of the sesame oil and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove the broccoli from the pan and place it in the bowl with the chicken.
- Still using the same pan over medium heat, stir together the red curry paste, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Add the cooked chicken and broccoli back to the pan. Continue stirring so that everything is covered in the curry mixture.
- Pour in the coconut milk, broth, and soy sauce and stir everything together. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Drain the noodles from the water and stir them into the soup. Cover the pan and allow it to simmer for 3-4 minutes until the noodles are completely soft.
- Allow the soup to cool a little before serving. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- I always have a ginger root in my freezer. Whenever a recipe calls for ginger, I pull it out and use my handheld grater to grate the ginger. It’s so easy, there is less mess and I don’t even peel it (although you can if you want to). It still maintains its amazing aroma and taste but you don’t end up throwing away any unused ginger and you always have it on hand. It's as close to fresh as you can get without actually having it in your pantry!
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Ashok says
Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.my family loved it.will be sharing this recipe with my friends.they will like it.
Swathi says
Thai Red curry noodle looks delicous
Emily says
Thank you, Swathi!
Kay says
Wow the flavours in this noodle soup are divine, love it.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
Incredibly delicious. I have to make this tonight!
Leslie says
Delightful Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup recipe!
Emily says
Thanks, Leslie!
Alena says
I love Thai curry, but have never made it a soup so I'm super excited to have found this recipe!
Emily says
You are going to love this recipe, I promise!
Connie says
Love incorporating Asian cuisine at least once a week. This dish is another great addition to my rotating collection of Asian recipes.
Emily says
Glad to hear it, Connie! This recipe is in our dinner rotation for sure!
Meesha says
This looks super comforting and yum !
Emily says
Thanks Meesha, it’s definitely on the comfort food list!
FOODHEAL says
This curry is a complete meal, great for meal prep.
Gabriela Herrera says
Looks so comforting.
Audrey says
This is a perfect soup for winter!
Emily says
Thanks, Audrey! It's a great winter warmer and it also works even when it's warm outside!
Amy says
This was delicious and sure was better than take out!
Emily says
I totally agree, Amy, I'm so glad you liked it!