When I first came up with this soup, I was looking to make something speedy to serve with a main dish salad. And speedy it is, taking only about fifteen minutes from start to finish, yet it tastes like a long-simmering soup. At first, I thought I was imagining things, but I’ve made it many times since, and that’s just how long it takes. The tiny bit of red curry gives it ample heat; if you’d like a spicier soup, use more, and for a less spicy effect, omit the red curry altogether
Recipe information
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Heat the oil in a small soup pot. Add the garlic, the white parts of the scallions, and the bell pepper. Sauté over medium-low heat until softened and golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 2
Add the coconut milk, rice milk, corn, curry powder, and the green parts of the scallions. If using the curry paste, dissolve it in a small amount of water before adding to the soup.
Step 3
Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Season with salt and remove from the heat.
Step 4
Serve, passing around the cilantro for topping.
variation
Step 5
If you have more time, this makes a wonderful cold summer soup. Do step 1, but don’t heat after adding the coconut milk and rice milk in step 2. Use 4 to 5 ears lightly cooked fresh corn instead of frozen corn; rinse under cool water and scrape off the kernels. If you’d like, use minced fresh chiles instead of the curry paste. Refrigerate the soup until chilled.
menu suggestions
Step 6
For a soup-and-salad meal, this pairs perfectly with Thai Tossed Salad (page 184).
Step 7
This soup is a good first course for Thai Steamed Green Garden with Coconut-Peanut Sauce (page 54). Serve with a platter of raw vegetables.
Step 8
I also recommend this soup to begin a meal of Gingery Rice with Sweet Potatoes and Peas (page 88). Start the rice dish first, as it takes longer to cook. Serve with a simple salad of mixed baby greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
nutrition information
Step 9
Calories: 225
Step 10
Total Fat: 12g
Step 11
Protein: 3g
Step 12
Carbohydrates: 31g
Step 13
Fiber: 3g
Step 14
Sodium: 435mg
