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      Home » Easy Recipes

      Easy Thai Tom Yum Soup With Chicken

      Published: Nov 3, 2020 · Modified: Oct 11, 2023 by Suwanee · This post may contain affiliate links.

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      Easy Thai Tom Yum Soup With Chicken is a popular Thai sour and spicy soup with bold flavors from chicken broth, tom yum soup paste, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, and fresh lime juice. It's healthy and delicious all in one bowl!

      Want more of Tom Yum's deliciousness? Make your own Authentic homemade Thai Tom Yum paste and Nam Prik Pao. These two recipes are a must for the traditional Thai Tom Yum Experience.

      Tom yum soup with chicken in a small bowl with a spoon on the table

      Tom Yum is considered the most popular soup in Thai cuisine. You can usually find Tom Yam soup in many Thai restaurants around the globe. 

      For more delicious Thai soups, look at these recipes: Thai Tom Kha coconut soup, Khao Tom Gai Thai rice soup, and Thai shrimp and fish sour soup.

      Jump to:
      • What is Tom Yum? 
      • Why You'll Love Tom Yum Soup
      • Ingredients for Tom Yum Soup Recipe
      • A note on pre-made Tom Yum paste 
      • How to Make Tom Yum Gai 
      • Helpful Kitchen notes
      • FAQs
      • More Thai Recipes You'll Love
      • Easy Thai Tom Yum Soup With Chicken

      What is Tom Yum? 

      Tom Yum is a sour soup recipe with bold and delicious flavors from fresh Thai herbs and vegetables. The broth is infused with lemongrass, galangal kaffir lime leaves, and cilantro roots. The flavors are tamarind, fish sauce, and spicy chili paste, Nam Prik Pao. The vegetables used are typically tomatoes, shallots, and mushrooms. 

      Tom Yum soups are typically known for using large shrimp in the dish, and it's called Tom Yum Goong, but like many Thai recipes, you can easily adapt your protein. You can use seafood combinations like fish, shrimp, scallops, squid, and mussels.

      For my Tom Yum recipe,  I use chicken, which in Thai is called ‘Tom Yum Gai, meaning chicken. Though uncommon, you can use beef, pork, or duck. Any protein option will work. 

      tom yum soup in 2 small bowls on the table with spoons

      Why You'll Love Tom Yum Soup

      • It's a delicious soup full of flavors that explode in your mouth!
      • The aromatic ingredients in the soup are extremely healthy and healing to the body—one of the best soups to have when you are sick.
      • It's spicy from the use of Thai chili paste and Thai peppers. Perfect for spicy food lovers!
      • Vegetarian versions are easily adaptable. Add tofu and tempeh, or add extra vegetables to the soup! 
      • The recipe uses a pre-made paste, making it super easy and fast to make Tom Yum soup!

      Ingredients for Tom Yum Soup Recipe

      Ingredients for Tom Yum recipe with chicken
      • Chicken. My recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breast. Chicken thighs will work!
      • Thai bird's eye chiles. Use fresh or dry Thai chilies. Be sure to leave them whole, or your soup will get too spicy from the seeds of the peppers.
      • Mushrooms. Many different types of mushrooms can be used in Tom Yum. Some of my favorites are Oyster mushrooms, Shimaji, and shiitake mushrooms. Enoki mushrooms are excellent, too, if you can find them. Traditional Thai recipes use straw mushrooms, but any fresh mushroom available at your local grocery store will work.
      • Tomato. Cherry or Roma tomatoes work great for Tom yum soup.
      • Fresh lemongrass. You'll be using large stalks of lemongrass to make the stock.
      • Fresh galangal. Do not use fresh ginger for this recipe. It will not yield the same flavor.
      • Kaffir lime leaf. Also called Makrut lime leaves, one of the key ingredients for Tom Yum soups. There's no good substitute for fresh lime leaves. They can be found in most Asian markets.
      • Tom Yum paste. Use the store-bought paste to make this easy Tom Yum Soup recipe. If you can find Thai chili paste, grab it too and use it to add to the soup for an extra spicy flavor.
      • Fresh cilantro. Use the stems for making the broth and the rest for garnishing.
      • Stock. The traditional recipes use shrimp stock from large juicy shrimp shells, where umami flavors come from. But bone or vegetable broth works well. Plain water works, too, especially to help reduce calories. Add some fish sauce and lime juice to jazz up the flavors.
      • Sugar. White, brown, or palm sugar.

      A note on pre-made Tom Yum paste 

      Tom yum paste in a container Aroy-D brand

      I grew up eating Tom Yum soup made from scratch. It’s a bit of a process but not entirely too difficult. We made chicken broth from scratch, too—meaning we caught our free-roaming chicken from our yard and…made homemade broth from the unlucky chicken. I know I can't do it now after being in America for too long. (;

      That was just how we lived back then. We then made the tom yum paste for the base from herbs and spices like Thai chili peppers, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass, most of which we found in our yard. That paste was then combined with the broth, additional herbs, and meat, and we had a delicious meal. 

      Here in the US, I often buy pre-made tom yum paste. I also don’t chase any free-range chicken for my soup broth. I’ll wait for that the next time I go to Thailand to visit my Thai family. (;

      For the Tom Yum paste, I recommend the brand pictured above; you can find it in most Asian markets near you. I also have used, love, and recommend this brand of Tom Yum paste. Always refrigerate your paste after opening. It will keep for 3-6 months or longer. 

      How to Make Tom Yum Gai 

      Step 1. Add the stock to a soup pot and boil on medium-high heat.

      tom yum clear broth in a blue soup pot

      Step 2. Add Tom Yum paste and stir well until the paste dissolves.

      tom yum paste in a wooden spoon to add to broth

      Step 3. Add all the herbs (kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, and cilantro stems) and stir. The Thai chilis are optional if you want more heat. Turn the heat to medium and let simmer for 5-8 minutes.

      tom yum broth with herbs for making stock

      Step 4. Add the chicken, stir, and cook until done. It takes about 5-7 minutes.

      chicken for added to tom yum broth

      Step 5. Add the shallot, mushroom, and tomato and stir. Cook for 3-4 minutes more.

      tomato, mushroom and shallot added to tom yum broth

      Step 6. Add fish sauce and lime juice, cook for 1-2 minutes, turn the heat off, and remove from the stovetop. Taste the delicious tangy broth. And adjust as needed with more fish sauce and lime juice. Be careful here; the soup is still hot, so don’t burn your tongue.

      Remove the lemongrass stalks before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Enjoy your chicken Tom Yum Soup!

      Tom yom soup in a pot on the stove

      Helpful Kitchen notes

      • Tom Yum soup can be eaten as a stand-alone dish. You can add cooked Jasmine rice to the bowl if desired. My Thai family and I often do so as it makes the soup more hearty. Rice also serves as a great buffer for the spicy flavors of the soup! (: 
      • You'll need to visit your local Asian market to get all the ingredients to make the most authentic tom yum soup recipe.
      • If you have Thai chili paste, use it in addition to the Tom yum paste.
      • Don’t forget to remove the chunky herbs before eating, especially the lemongrass, if you don’t want to eat them. They will not harm you, but they are pretty strong in flavor and hard to chew if you are not used to them.
      • To make the creamy version of this sour chicken soup, use coconut milk instead of stock or water.

      FAQs

      Is Tom Yum soup healthy? 

      Tom Yum soup is very healthy! Some versions call for sugar and or coconut milk; mine has neither. I’ll share the version I make with coconut milk later. I’m sharing this very easy and quick Thai chicken soup that doesn’t call for coconut milk. This recipe will keep you warm all winter long!

      How do you make Tom Yum soup from scratch?

      This Tom Yum soup recipe uses Tom Yum paste. Click here for homemade Tom yum paste. Tom yum paste is typically made from hot Thai chili peppers, shallots, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and rind. These ingredients are then chopped small and pounded together to paste in a mortar and pestle or blended in a food processor. 

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

      Tom Kha is another well-known Thai soup that calls for almost the same ingredients as Tom Yum soup. The main difference is the use of coconut milk in Tom Kha makes the soup a tiny bit more creamy and slightly sweeter than the boldly sour and salty soup of Tom Yum. Try my authentic Tom Kha Gai recipe to see which you like best! 

      Tom Yum gai vs Tom Kha gai

      More Thai Recipes You'll Love

      • Creamy Tom Yum soup with shrimp
      • Tom Yum meatballs
      • Authentic homemade Thai Tom Yum paste
      • Nam Prik Pao, Thai roasted chili paste
      • Instant Pot Tom Thai Yum soup with shrimp
      • Tom Kha Gai recipe, authentic recipe
      • Tom Yum fried rice using leftover turkey meat.
      • Authentic Thai red curry recipe
      • Thai Choo Chee curry with salmon 
      • Thai pork belly with yellow curry
      • Easy red curry green beans with shrimp

      ** Love a recipe you've tried? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and a review in the comments section further down the page. Or follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram! **

      Print
      clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
      Tom Yum Soup is a popular Thai sour and spicy soup with bold flavors from chicken broth, tom yum soup paste, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce and fresh lime juice. Not only is this delicious Tom Yum soup recipe with chicken healthy, it is full of flavors that will keep you wanting more all winter long. #tomyumsoup #tomyumgai #tomyumrecipe #authetictomyumrecipe

      Easy Thai Tom Yum Soup With Chicken


      ★★★★★

      5 from 7 reviews

      • Author: Suwanee
      • Total Time: 25 minutes
      • Yield: 6 1x
      • Diet: Low Lactose
      Print Recipe
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      Description

      Easy Thai Tom Yum Soup With Chicken is a popular Thai sour and spicy soup with bold flavors from chicken broth, tom yum soup paste, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, and fresh lime juice. It's healthy and delicious all in one bowl!


      Ingredients

      Scale
      • 5 cups chicken stock
      • ⅓ cup cilantro stems, sliced 3 inches long
      • 5 kaffir lime leaves, roughly torn
      • 3 stalk lemongrass, cut 3-4 inches long
      • 4 pieces galangal, golf ball sized in diameter, bruise lightly before using.
      • ¼ cup Tom Yum paste. Use less to reduce spiciness but adjust the final taste with more fish sauce, tamarind, and sugar.
      • 1 pound chicken cut into bite-sized pieces
      • ¾ cup shallot sliced long and thin
      • 1 cup mushrooms, chopped into 1-inch pieces
      • 1 cup chopped tomato, bite-sized pieces
      • 3 tablespoon fish sauce
      • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

      For garnishing

      • 3-4 stalks of cilantro, chopped small
      • 3 whole chili peppers (optional)

      Instructions

      1. Add the stock to a soup pot and boil on medium-high heat.
      2. Add Tom Yum paste and stir well until the paste dissolves.
      3. Add all the herbs (kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, and cilantro stems) and stir. The Thai chilis are optional if you want more heat. Turn the heat to medium and let simmer for 5-8 minutes.
      4. Add the chicken, stir, and cook until done. It takes about 5-7 minutes.
      5. Add the shallot, mushroom, and tomato and stir. Cook for 3-4 minutes more.
      6. Add fish sauce and lime juice, cook for 1-2 minutes, turn the heat off, and remove from the stovetop. Taste the delicious tangy broth. And adjust as needed with more fish sauce and lime juice. Be careful here; the soup is still very hot, so make sure you don’t burn your tongue. Remove the lemongrass stalks before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Enjoy your chicken Tom Yum Soup!

      Notes

      • Tom Yum soup can be eaten as a stand-alone dish. You can add cooked Jasmine rice to the bowl if desired. My Thai family and I often do so as it makes the soup more hearty. Rice also serves as a great buffer for the spicy flavors of the soup! (:
      • You'll need to visit your local Asian market to get all the ingredients to make the most authentic tom yum soup recipe.
      • If you have Thai chili paste, use it in addition to the Tom yum paste.
      • Don’t forget to remove the chunky herbs before eating, especially the lemongrass, if you don’t want to eat them. They will not harm you, but they are pretty strong in flavor and hard to chew if you are not used to them.
      • To make the creamy version of this sour chicken soup, use coconut milk instead of stock or water.

      ** Thank you so much for visiting my blog! This is truly a passion for me. If you have enjoyed these recipes and appreciate the hard work I put into them, I would love it if you would share them with your friends! Your recommendation is the highest review I could hope for, and I’d appreciate it! **

      • Prep Time: 10
      • Cook Time: 15
      • Category: soups
      • Method: Stove top
      • Cuisine: Thai

      Keywords: Tom Yum Soup, Tom Yum Gai, Tom Yum Soup Paste Recipe, Clear Thai Chicken Soup, Tom Yum Recipe, authentic tom yum chicken recipe, Thai food bloggers, Best Thai food,

      Did you make this recipe?

      Please rate and review this recipe in the comment section below so I can improve and make it a better experience for you!

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Suwanee

        October 31, 2023 at 6:25 am

        Thank you so much, Phoebe! This is the perfect soup for winter indeed!

      2. Phoebe Webb

        October 30, 2023 at 5:47 pm

        My husband and I love this soup-all the flavors compliment each other. It’s our go to, especially in the winter.

        ★★★★★

      3. Angela K

        August 01, 2023 at 9:55 pm

        A for sure 5 star rating! This soup warm and filling year round! So flavorful with the fresh lemongrass and Tom Yum paste. I tried this with chicken but I can’t wait to try it with shrimp—-and the coconut milk creamy version.

        ★★★★★

      4. Wara

        August 01, 2023 at 4:13 pm

        Thanks for the detailed instructions! It was easy to follow and it was so good!

        ★★★★★

      5. Suwanee

        July 28, 2023 at 9:08 am

        So happy to hear that, Pete. So happy it turned out delicious for you and your wife!

      6. Pete

        July 27, 2023 at 11:31 pm

        I'm one of those guys who puts in woefully few kitchen appearances, but OMG, I'd be quite happy to pay money for what I produce following this recipe. I substituted scallions for shallots, ginger paste for the G stuff, and lemongrass paste for fresh stems (a couple of good teaspoons of each), and put it all on top of some vermicelli noodles. So good, wife impressed 😇, will definitely make again!

        ★★★★★

      7. Suwanee

        February 21, 2023 at 3:54 pm

        Hi Jasmine, here is the link to my homemade Tom Yum Paste:
        https://www.simplysuwanee.com/authentic-homemade-thai-tom-yum-paste/

      8. Suwanee

        February 08, 2023 at 1:38 pm

        I do! It's on the queue for next week! What perfect timing. Thank you for visiting my blog, Jas.

      9. Jas

        February 08, 2023 at 5:45 am

        Really loving your blog very much. Do you have the recipe for making tom yum paste from scratch?

        ★★★★★

      10. Suwanee

        January 27, 2022 at 1:08 pm

        Hello Hudi,
        I'm so glad those subs work for you! Great job. Cooking is all about playing around with the recipes given and makes what works for us in the kitchen! (:

      11. Hudi

        January 09, 2022 at 1:22 pm

        Turned out amazing! I’m surprised how quick and easy it was to make. I did sub chicken broth for vegetable broth, and ginger for galanga.

        ★★★★★

      12. Suwanee

        November 10, 2021 at 3:56 pm

        So wonderful to hear Hiroko! It's such a fantastic soup full of flavors from fresh herbs!

      13. Hiroko Hill

        November 09, 2021 at 7:24 pm

        I love Tom Yum Kung soup. It is easy to make & very healthy soup. I put Jasmin rice at the bottom of soup bowl so it is a complete meal. My family enjoyed it. This will be our regular soup since most of the ingredients can be frozen & or easy to buy. Thank you for sharing yummy recipe.

        ★★★★★

      14. Suwanee

        January 26, 2021 at 11:13 am

        Hi Lisa,
        Thank you for your questions! You're right, carb numbers seem high. After some digging, here's what I came up with.
        1. For the carbs--It looks like all these ingredients have some carbs in them so they add up to the amount on the recipe card; (Galangal 4, curry paste 4, Tomato 7, shallot 4, and lemongrass 14, Proximate numbers). I used MyFitnessPal apps to help figure out the carb numbers. Surprisingly I didn't realize lemongrass has so many carbs!! I doublecheck another site, Carb Manager, and sure enough, very similar result! Carb Manager

        2. I used store-bought Tum Yum paste for this recipe for the quick and easy version. Unfortunately, most store-bought pastes have additives and high sodium in them. I haven't yet found a good substitute for more natural ingredients. You can make your own paste, the only thing is that homemade Tom Yum paste can be very involved. There are 2 parts to the paste, the red curry paste and the garlic and shallot chili paste which make Tom Yum soup. I haven't yet tested these two recipes for my blog but thank you for the idea! My best suggestion, for now, is to do your best to find healthy red curry pastes and chili pastes with minimal additives and add extra lime juice to the recipe. In the meantime I will seriously consider the idea of adding Tom Yum pastes to my blog.
        Thank you,
        Suwanee

      15. Lisa Mudra

        January 25, 2021 at 4:53 am

        Before I make this recipe I wanted to ask a few questions.
        1. What makes the carbs so high on this recipe?
        2. I noticed the only paste I find has additives and sodium content I can’t use. Is there a substitute for Tom Yum paste or can I make it myself?
        Thank you
        Lisa

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      Hi there, I’m Suwanee! I'm the person behind this Thai food blog. I spent thirteen years of childhood in Thailand, where I was first introduced to the flavors of Thai cooking. You are in the right place if you: Love to cook Thai food. Come by often, and let's get cooking! Read More…

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