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Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup - So much better than takeout! Packed with bites of tender chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, basil and lime juice!

An easy one pot dinner! Thai red curry noodles deliver on flavor and convenience. With tender chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, basil + lime!

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup - So much better than takeout! Packed with bites of tender chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, basil and lime juice!

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EXCELLENT! Easy and tasty. I doubled the recipe but only had 1 small jar of Red Curry Paste so I used it all… a little less than 6 Tbsp… then I added extra fish sauce in error and substituted ginger paste for the fresh ginger. I gave my daughter a container and she praised this soup which made me happy. While my soup wasn’t spicy, it was really good and I was sad when it was gone; good thing I had doubled the recipe.
Julia
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Why you’ll love this thai red curry noodle soup recipe

  • Restaurant-quality. Now you can make your favorite takeout dish right at home for half the cost with better quality ingredients using your favorite protein.
  • Packed with flavor. This noodle soup is simply downright fragrant, flavorful, cold weather comfort food, full of bold Thai flavors.
  • One pot dinner. This no-fuss, one pot dinner means less dishes, less clean up, making it so effortless for busy weeknights, but also fancy enough for weekend company.
  • Clean-out-the-fridge meal. And of course this makes for the best clean-out-the-fridge dinner, adding in any lingering veggies that need to be used up.
Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup - So much better than takeout! Packed with bites of tender chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, basil and lime juice!

what is red curry paste and where can i find it?

Commonly used in Thai dishes, red curry paste is made from a blend of red chili pepper, garlic, lemongrass, Thai ginger, and various spices.

Red curry paste is typically used for stir-fry, soups or mixed with coconut milk for curry. It is readily available in most grocery store chains, particularly the Thai Kitchen brand, and online, with some brands containing shellfish (shrimp paste).

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup - So much better than takeout! Packed with bites of tender chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, basil and lime juice!

How to make thai red curry noodle soup

  1. Sear the chicken. First, season the chicken with salt and pepper, searing until golden brown in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Cook the aromatics. Cook the garlic, bell pepper, and onion until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add the red curry paste. Stir in the red curry paste, adjusting the amount of curry paste to your (or your family’s) spice levels.
  4. Deglaze the pan. Add the chicken broth and coconut milk, deglazing by scraping the prized caramelized brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot (fond).
  5. Simmer. Simmer until slightly reduced and the flavors have blended, about 10 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more it reduces.
  6. Cook the noodles. Stir in the rice noodles (or desired noodles), fish sauce, and brown sugar. Rice noodles will cook quickly, about 5 minutes.
  7. Add the finishing touches. Add the green onions, cilantro, basil and lime juice, seasoning with salt and pepper, if needed.
  8. Serve. Serve warm, keeping the noodles and broth separately if preparing for leftovers.
Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup - So much better than takeout! Packed with bites of tender chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, basil and lime juice!

what to serve with thai red curry noodle soup

Tools For This Recipe

Dutch oven

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different protein?

Absolutely! Shrimp or tofu are both great options.

What brand of red curry paste do you recommend?

I personally love Mae Ploy (contains shrimp paste). But Thai Kitchen is also great with mild heat and more readily available at most grocery stores.

Which noodles are best?

Rice noodles are my go-to, coming in various sizes (wide, medium and thin). Rice vermicelli is used here, the thinnest rice noodles. But udon or soba noodles are also solid options.

What does fish sauce taste like?

Fish sauce has a strong, pungent “fishy” smell but when cooked, it brings in savory, salty, umami goodness.

How can I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days, separating the rice noodles from the broth.

Is this freezer-friendly?

Unfortunately freezing is not recommended as coconut milk tends to separate when frozen.

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup

Yield: 6 servings (8 cups)
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
An easy one pot dinner! Thai red curry noodles deliver on flavor and convenience. With tender chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, basil + lime!
4.9 stars (895 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
  • 4 ounces rice noodles
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Add chicken to the stockpot and cook until golden, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.
  • Add garlic, bell pepper and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Stir in red curry paste and ginger until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in chicken broth and coconut milk, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  • Stir in chicken. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced, about 10 minutes.
  • Stir in rice noodles, fish sauce and brown sugar until noodles are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat; stir in green onions, cilantro, basil and lime juice; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Serve immediately.

Equipment

Dutch Oven
Dutch Oven

Notes

  • Use your favorite protein. This recipe will work well with chicken thighs, chicken breasts, shrimp or tofu.
  • Full fat coconut milk will be more rich. Although lite coconut milk can certainly be used, full fat coconut milk will yield a much more rich and creamy broth.
  • Fish sauce is a hero. Fish sauce is a key ingredient here, balancing out the flavors, and adding saltiness and umami without overpowering it. A little bit goes a long way.
  • Mix it up. Swap out the red curry paste for green, add in more veggies (cabbage, zucchini, mushrooms or bok choy) or use your favorite noodles (vermicelli, udon or soba noodles).
  • Divide and conquer. When storing leftovers, separate the noodles and broth. This will help the noodles retain its texture.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Thai

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