Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup
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Thai coconut shrimp soup is a delicious, not too spicy, curry-based broth, with fresh shrimp, and vegetables.
This Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup is one of the first recipes I posted on my site. It’s my go-to soup when we want something lighter and healthier for dinner. I love recipes that have just a few ingredients, and this is one of them. Not only that, it’s ready in under 30 minutes making it a great meal on a busy weeknight. (This recipe was originally published on August 12th, 2011, has been updated to contain nutritional values. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.)
Coconut Milk
A few years ago, coconut milk would have been something you could only find in a speciality or ethnic food store. Now it’s a staple in any major grocery store. Look for it in the Asian section of your local store. What’s the difference between coconut cream, coconut milk? Coconut cream is much thicker in consistency than coconut milk. Sometimes you’ll get a layer of coconut cream on top of your coconut milk. You can shake the can before you open it to try and incorporate the cream and the milk. For this recipe you can use either coconut milk, or light coconut milk which has less fat and fewer calories than coconut milk.
Adapting the recipe
One thing I love about cooking over baking is the lack of precision. I don’t like to give exact measurement (but I do) for things like red bell peppers. The recipe will not be affected much if you add 1/2 cup bell peppers rather than 1/3. Or 5 ounces of mushrooms instead of 4. How do you like it? Is it too sour? Add something sweet. Is it to sweet? Add something tart, like lemon, lime or vinegar or a pinch of salt. To make it more low-carb friendly, I’ve used swerve brown sugar, but you can easily substitute regular brown sugar. There’s only 1 tablespoon in the recipe which is less than a teaspoon per serving. I’ve calculated the nutritional values based on swerve.
What to substitute for fish sauce?
Fish sauce is another one of those staples that I used to purchase at an Asian market in the next town over. Today you will find fish sauce in the same section as the coconut milk and curry paste. Fish sauce is an integral part of Thai cooking. A good one is Red Boat which is just anchovies and water. If you don’t feel like purchasing a whole bottle of fish sauce, you can substitute a tablespoon or two of anchovy paste. Fish sauce is salty and definitely adds umami. If the soup isn’t salty enough. just add a bit more fish sauce or anchovy paste.
Curry Paste
Don’t confuse curry paste with curry powder. Curry paste is a blend of red chili peppers, garlic, lemongrass, lime and spices. Curry powders are a blend of spices. Both curry paste and curry powder can range from mild to extra hot. Curry is flavor and is not necessarily spicy, but rather flavorful. Depending on the paste you’ve chosen (don’t forget to read the label!) you could add more than what’s listed in the recipe if desired. Start with what the recipe calls for, as you can always add more, but it’s much more difficult to “fix” a recipe once you’ve added too much. This is the curry paste I use.
Enjoy this Thai coconut shrimp soup recipe!
Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut oil
- 1 shallot minced
- 1/3 cup red bell peppers finely diced (about a half of a medium sized pepper)
- 1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms about 5 ounces
- 2 Tablespoon red curry paste
- 1 Tablespoon ginger peeled, grated
- 1 quart chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon Swerve brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 can light coconut milk 13.5 ounces
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined* (21-25 per pound)
- 1/2 cup green onions thinly sliced (about 2)
- 2 Tablespoons basil thinly sliced, chiffonade.
- 2 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat one tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat. Add shallots, and stir, cooking just until fragrant. About 1-2 minutes.
- Add bell peppers, mushrooms, curry paste, ginger, chicken broth, brown sugar, and fish sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Cover and cook until hot and bubbly, about 8 minutes.
- Add coconut milk and return to a simmer. Add shrimp and cook just until pink and cooked through, about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add sliced green onions, lime juice and fresh basil.
Nutrition
Great recipe! Thanks! I have 3 pairs of kitchen sheers that I only use for cooking. It’s the easiest way to cut pizza! Hubby thinks I’m nuts for using sheers to cut everything. But, then he doesn’t have to cut it.. does he? 😛
*Shears.. not sheers Doh!
Yep! I have about the same number of shears as well! I use them for pizza too!
Yum! I’ve been looking for something exactly like this — Easy and full of flavor. I just pinned it & I’ll make it soon! Thank you!
Yum! I’ve been looking for something exactly like this — Easy and full of flavor. I just pinned it & I’ll make it soon! Thank you!
I’ve never seen this recipe! I think I have everything except the coconut milk, so I’m totally going to make this! Looks great for a cold night! Thanks, Cynthia!
My favorite soup is Tom Kha and this reminds me so much of it. I usually have chicken in my soup but now I want to try your shrimp recipe, yum!
This sounds so good! When I make it like to add red pepper flakes on my bowl. Love that extra little kick!
One of my favorite dinners! I’m so happy to have this recipe, thank you!
Thai curry is the best! This looks so comforting. All the spices a perfect!
I can almost smell the fragrant ingredients, it all sounds wonderful!
Yum! I love Thai coconut soups and anything with fish sauce is a winner in my book. Totally making this when winter hits!
I think this recipe is great to make at home. I just love it
Sounds like comfort food to me! Yum!
So much delicious flavor! Love that it is keto friendly!
I love the flavor combination you make here with the coconut and curry! I’ll have to put this on the line-up for my house!
This looks like a healthy homemade version of my favorite Tom Yum soup with shrimp! I can’t wait to make it… and bonus that it is ready in less than 30 minutes!
I love all the flavors of Thai food! Fast and healthy is even better!
This is my favourite soup and I have never been able to find a recipe like the soup I had in Thailand till now! This was absolutely delicious!
Awesome, thank you! So easy too!
I have red curry paste from Thailand made by my Thai sister-in-law. If I used two tablespoons full, I couldn’t serve it to my woosey friends. I am afraid to cut back very much on the quantity for fear of sacrificing flavor. You don’t recommend any particular paste even as you acknowledge there can be vast differences between them. What do you suggest, lesser quantity or seek out a commercial paste locally?
Thanks
Good point! I’m sure homemade red curry paste is quite different from store-bought. I use Thai Kitchen which I think is quite mild. I will make a note! Thank you!
In my early days of cooking, I remember being very confused about the varieties of coconut milk. Coco Lopez does not belong in Thai soups! I never did that but I might have if I hadn’t read the sugar content! Anyway, beautiful soup. Lovely flavors.
lol…definitely not the same thing! But when we were growing up Coco Lopez was all their was. Fortunately almost every grocery store carries coconut milk and coconut cream now.
Pleasure to go through such wonderful work!!
Excellent Soup! I realized I didn’t have coconut milk, so I used almond milk instead and then pinched some coconut flakes that I had (which melted) and it still tasted so great. This is a quick and easy recipe that is absolutely delicious!
Glad it worked out with all the improvisations!
This is fabulous. I prefer red curry paste over the others, so I know I’d love this. Great recipe.
Great website, thanks for the great recipes… I’ll use them again in the future 😉 THANK YOU !!! Greetings from Germany
Thank you! Welcome!
I will definitely be making this soup again. The recipe was easy to follow and Cynthia gave great cooking tips. I was so happy to capture the flavor of the Thai soup I’ve had at restaurants and can now prepare it at home!
Oh thank you so much Sue! I appreciate it!