Vegan khao soi soup

Vegan khao soi soup

vegan khao soi soup top down

How does a bowl of warming soup sound to you right now? If winter has moved in to your neck of the woods, then I’m sure you won’t be able to resist! Even we, who have been lucky enough to swap cold and wet English winters for much milder Greek ones, are finding a soup for dinner a welcome prospect right now as evenings have suddenly got windy and cold. And this isn’t just any old soup, it’s more of a substantial dish full of spice, seasonal veggies and noodles bathed in an aromatic curry broth inspired by a Thai classic soup. This vegan Khao Soi is easy to make, filling and very satisfying!

I was rather distracted on the day I was shooting this recipe. The day before we found ourselves become foster parents to one half-starved little kitty and all I wanted to do is to sit by her side and watch her get better. We were driving to get some shopping done when we saw a scruffy little kitten casually stroll on the other side of the road. We stopped the car, but before we managed to get out to help the kitty off the road a car going at a full speed appeared on the other side. We screamed and gesticulated at the driver to get him to slow down in time, but to our horror he ploughed through this poor little critter at full speed without making any attempt to avoid it. Needless to say he did not stop either. We were both sure the kitty died on the spot so when we saw her little shaken body walk off and seek refuge next to a nearby tree we were both shocked and relieved at the same time. Despite such a recent trauma, she was extremely affectionate and docile. Miraculously, she did not seem to have sustained any injuries following the accident but two things immediately stood out – she was starved to near-death and a gracious host to a major flea colony. We couldn’t leave her behind…

A vet confirmed that apart from starvation, a thriving flea and worm population on her back and in her intestines, she is a survivor!! Two days have gone by and she’s getting better by the hour. She is currently curled up on a hot water bottle, wrapped up in a blanket and getting much needed sleep. Our mission is to cure all her ailments and fatten her up a little (okay, a lot!) and find her a loving home as our resident cat (also a rescue one), Tina, has already let us know how she feels about our charity. So if you love cats and would love a gentle and affectionate companion kitty (and you live in continental Europe), please get in touch!! We are sure that together we can figure something out to ship Snowy to a loving ‘hooman’ as soon as she is fully recovered and well enough to travel.

vegan khao soi paste

vegan khao soi soup close up

vegan khao soi soup sideview

vegan khao soi soup portion

serves
3-4
PREP
20 min
COOKING
20 min
serves
3-4
PREPARATION
20 min
COOKING
20 min
INGREDIENTS
KHAO SOI PASTE

  • 4 hot red chillies (fresh or dried*) I used fresh
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 5 cm / 2 ” piece of ginger, peeled and roughly sliced
  • 4 tbsp / ¼ cup coriander stalks, chopped
  • 2 lemongrass stalks, white inner part only, roughly chopped
  • 2 small shallots, roughly chopped
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds or ½ tsp ground coriander
  • 1½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp curry powder (I used hot Madras curry powder)

REMAINING INGREDIENTS

  • favourite noodles (GF if needed), 1.7 oz / 50 g per person
  • ½ head of broccoli, divided into florets
  • ½ butternut squash, peeled and sliced into dice
  • a large handful of flat green beans, cut on the diagonal
  • oil (I used peanut, for frying)
  • about 750 ml / 3 cups of vegetable stock
  • 250 ml / 1 cup full fat coconut milk**
  • about 3 tbsp vegan fish sauce or tamari / soy sauce
  • juice of ½ lime
  • 1-2 tbsp sugar, I used coconut sugar
  • fresh coriander, to serve (optional)
METHOD
  1. OPTIONAL STEP: If using whole coriander seeds, I recommend pre-roasting them on a dry pan until golden and fragrant and pounding them to a powder in a pestle and mortar.
  2. Place all the paste ingredients in a herb chopper or a food processor, add about 4 tbsp of water and process until you get a uniform paste.
  3. You can cook your vegetables in the soup (see STEP 7) or separately, like I did. It takes a bit more work but I find that they taste better than if you simply boil them. If you want to cook them separately, heat up the oven to 225° C / 435° F and line a tray with a piece of baking paper. Coat diced butternut squash in a tablespoon of oil, season with salt or tamari / soy sauce and bake for about 30 mins, until golden. Heat up one tablespoon of oil in a wok and stir fry broccoli florets for about 1 minute, add sliced beans and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Season with tamari or soy sauce.
  4. Cook noodles according to the instructions on the packet.
  5. Put the bowls into a warm oven (100 °C / 210 °F) to heat them up for serving.
  6. Heat up a tablespoon of oil in a medium size pot. Add Khao Soi paste to the hot oil and stir-fry it for about 4-6 minutes, until slightly darkened. Add vegetable broth and coconut milk and allow them to come to the boil. Season with vegan fish sauce (tamari or soy sauce), fresh lime juice and sugar to taste.
  7. If you want to cook your vegetables in the soup, place diced butternut squash in the soup, allow the soup to come to the boil and simmer for about 7 minutes, add broccoli florets and sliced beans and cook for a 5 further minutes.
  8. Pour over cooked noodles and serve with fresh coriander.

NOTES
*If using dried chillies, soak them in boiling water for 30 minutes. Adjust the number of chillies according to personal preference and the type of chilli you are using. I only have one, generic, red chilli at my disposal here and as they are not very hot I used 4. I also roasted them in a 220 °C / 430 °F for about 10 minutes to deepen their flavour a little.

**The original recipe used 2 cups of broth to just over 3 cups (2 x 14 oz / 400 ml tins) of coconut milk. I found even half of the coconut milk (1 x 14 oz / 400 ml tin) too rich so I suggest 3 cups of broth to 1 cup of coconut milk. If you prefer a richer and creamier soup, substitute some of the broth for extra coconut milk.

My recipe is an adaptation of this recipe from Epicurious.

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NUTRITIONAL INFO
calories
321
16%
sugars
12 g
13%
fats
19 g
27%
saturates
14 g
69%
proteins
7 g
13%
carbs
38 g
14%
*per serving
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5.0
18 reviews, 46 comments
REVIEWS & QUESTIONS
Rebecca:
So good, a nice switch from my usual flavour go-tos! Will definitely make again. I had fresh cayenne pepper's from my sister's garden, as they are quite hot I just used one and it was plenty spicy, I think next time I'd do a smidge less but as you said amount used largely depends on personal preference and type of chili used.
One other tip: I couldn't find fresh lemongrass but was able to find lemongrass paste, I used 2 tsp instead of the 2 stalks, will up it a bit next time but the dish still had tons of flavour. Just a note in case anyone else also is struggling to find fresh lemongrass to maybe try this.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Rebecca, I am delighted to hear that you enjoy this soup so much. Yes, chillies differ so much between types that I always advice caution. It's easier to add more than take any away. As for lemongrass paste, typically 1 tbsp equals 1 fresh lemongrass and yes, I agree, works well enough if you cannot find fresh and it is certainly less hassle. x Ania
Lydia:
I have made this several times now and it tastes amazing every time. It's worth it to make the curry paste from scratch as the flavours come out delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much for your kind words, Lydia! I am really happy to hear that you enjoyed it so much and thank you for taking the time to review – I really appreciate it. x Ania
michelle:
Although this recipe has many steps, it's worth it! Made this for son's birthday and the depth of flavor was memorable! Pin this recipe today!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you, Michelle! I am so glad to hear that you and your son enjoyed this dish so much. And I really appreciate you taking the time to review, thanks so much! x Ania
Elizabeth:
Wonderful and easy! A new staple in my family.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much, Elizabeth! I am delighted to hear that it went down so well with everyone in your house and I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know, thank you. x Ania
raju:
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.
    Ania
    Ania:
    My pleasure, I'm happy to hear that it went down so well. x Ania
Cathy:
Oh, hooray for your lovely friend! It sounds like kitty has hit the jackpot!
    Ania
    Ania:
    she really did! My friend is the best cat mama ever! x
Cathy:
Hi! This was absolutely delicious! I was tired and forgot to cook up the noodles as I wasn't really following closely, but it still came out fabulously. I added baked triangles of firm tofu, too, which went really well.
Hope the kitten is a big fat cat snoozing in a forever home these days! I've rescued my share of sad kittens, and it does my heart good to know there are others out there keeping an eye out for them, too.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Glad to hear that this recipe hit the spot, Cathy. And thank you for taking the time to let me know. As for the kitty, she is all grown up now and has moved to Cyprus with my friend who relocated with 30 or so cats and a few dogs. She is the real hero here! And now she is working for a local vet and I'm so thrilled for her as this is the job she was born to do. x Ania
Bella:
Hello! I am making this soup tonight for the first time and I’m so excited to try it! When actually making the soup do you use all the Khao Soi paste that we prepared or is it only a portion of that? Just wanna make sure that if I’m only supposed to use a portion I don’t use it all and mess up my soup LOL! Thanks in advance!!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Bella,
    I hope you'll enjoy it. The entire paste is used as a base for one soup. Ania
Maggie:
Hi from Germany :)
this was so delicious!!! I was looking for a veggie version of my favourite Chiang Mai street market dish and I finally found it - so happy! Thanks for the receipe! I added some black Cardamom seeds. So so sooooooo good - I‘m still doing a happy dance while my boyfriend is cleaning the kitchen :)
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hallo Maggie!
    Thank you, I'm really happy that you and your boyfriend enjoyed this soup so much that you did a dance when washing up :) - washing up is by far my least favourite so that's amazing, I might try that during my countless hours doing it! x Ania
Nicole:
This turned out so well! I’ve been looking for a vegan friendly version of Khao Soi and this was delicious. Thank you!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much, Nicole. I am really pleased to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to review - much appreciated. Ania
Deeksha:
Hello Ania! This recipe looks delickious. Thankk you so much for this healthy recipe.
    Ania
    Ania:
    My pleasure, I hope you'll enjoy it! Ania
Kasia:
This soup and some other of your recipes are included in my menu and I make them regularly. Today we made your chocolate mousse and I can't wait to try it tomorrow. My fridge smells wonderful, it was super easy to make and looks great. Thank you and all the best:)
    Ania
    Ania:
    It's so nice to hear that you enjoy cooking from my recipes, Kasia! Thank you for letting me know and I hope you'll enjoy the mousse. Ania
Kasia:
Ania, this is a great recipe! Your blog looks perfect hugs! Kasia:)
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you for your kind words :) x Ania
Kelsey:
Hi there! I am so making this today! Do you think it might work in a crockpot?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Kelsey,
    I have never used one so I am not sure, but isn't it better suited to slow cooking stews like this one? I might be completely wrong though. Sorry I cannot be of any more help! Ania
Nicole:
Dear Ania, thanks for the recipe! I cooked the soup today and it really tastes like the first vegan khao soi i had recently in north-thailand.
Full recommendation!!!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks, Nicole! I am delighted to hear that! Ania
Yasmin:
Lovely recipe and chat feedback. Loved the kitty story - if I lived in Europe I would be in line to have her. Happy cooking and lots of blessings for your kindness.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you for you kind words, Yasmin!! Happy cooking to you too. x Ania
Paayel Agarwaal:
Thank you! How much time would you recommend?
    Ania
    Ania:
    You mean how long to roast for? Pumpkin takes about 30 min and broccoli about 15-20 in 200 C oven. Hope that helps! Ania
Paayel Agarwaal:
Those squash and broccoli look amazing. Did u oven roast before adding to the soup?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks! Yes, I did!
Anna:
Oh my gosh this soup is INCREDIBLE. I'm eating it right now and it's 100% going to become a weekly staple it's that good. I think it would work with pretty much any vegetable as well, I used potato, zucchini, carrot and sauteed some mushrooms in soy sauce to put on top and it's probably the best thing I've eaten in ages. In fact I may just make some of the special paste and bottle it up to give to my family so everyone can experience Ania's genius. Thank you so much! Love from NZ
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hahaha! Thanks, Anna! Although it's not my genius, it's Thai people's genius :) I'm so pleased to hear that you enjoyed it so much!! Ania
Lucy:
Hi, I don't see the Khao Soi paste in you list of ingredients. Is it red thai curry? I can't really find the ready product with this name.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Lucy,
    I haven't used a ready made paste in this recipe, I make one from scratch from the aromatics listed (instruction 2). I suppose you could sub with a vegan version of Red Thai curry paste, but the outcome won't be quite the same, of course. Ania
Isabela:
According to my partner, the best Asian soup I've ever cooked! Delicious (although a bit too hot for us, I'll use less red chillies next time). Thank you!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks, Isabela! That's lovely to hear! Ania
Miss Food Fairy:
Oh WOW Ania, that Khao Soi paste sounds absolutely wonderful! Is it a Thai paste? I can't wait to try it out but I may add some sort of protein. Pinned for later reference. Thanks for sharing x
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks, hope it'll hit the spot! Yes, it's inspired by a classic Thai soup. Ania
Divya Rai:
Sending all the love and good vibes to you for saving the kitty!! Hello from a cat-lover in New Delhi, India.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you so much! It's safe and sound, adopted by our friend, who used to be our neighbour.
Phil Leader:
I'm not a vegetarian but I was drawn to this recipe by the beautiful photos. I made it tonight and it was absolutely stunning! Lovely flavours and textures, and healthy too (although I probably cancelled out the goodness with the Maltesers I had after! Oh well.)
Thank you so much for posting the recipe. Going to try the Malabar curry next...
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much, Phil! That's awesome that it went down so well with you! Ha ha...tell me about Maltesers, when I lived in London I used to hoover them up on a regular basis! ;) x
Petra:
Amazing soup, I made it for my partner and he loved it. He is very picky when it comes to Asian -inspired food and he asked me to make it again at the weekend. Can't wait for more recipe like this.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Petra,
    Thank's lovely to hear!! Thanks so much! x Ania
Cara:
Could the paste be made ahead of time and stored for a few days? Or would you recommend against this? I've added this my family meal plan and am planning my prep work.
Beautiful website 😄
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much, Cara! Your comment made my day! :) I don't see why making the paste ahead would be a bad idea, but I would suggest topping it with generous amount of neutral oil so that it doesn't dry up and get mouldy and keeping it in the fridge in a sterilised jar. Good luck!
Kathy:
I made this curry and it was wonderful. I threw in some baked tofu as well.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much, Kathy! That's lovely to hear and tofu is always a great addition, isn't it! ;)
Kathryn:
Soup always sounds good! Thanks for sharing this recipe, looks delicious! :)
Kathryn
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks, Kathryn!
Acacia:
So this looks, and sounds, amazing. The only issue is I'm severely allergic to garlic; have you tried making this dish without it? Do we think it will taste similar or as good?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Acacia,
    I haven't tried making this dish without garlic as garlic, ginger and chilli are the 'holy trinity' of Indian and South-East Asian cooking and I think skipping the it will affect the taste massively, however, as you must be used to not having garlic it may not bother you. Worth trying! Also, have you heard of an Indian spice called asafoetida? It is used instead of onion and garlic in many Indian recipes and it may be a good substitue for you.
    Hope that helps,
    Ania
Judy:
First, this soup looks AMAZING. I can't wait to try it, so thank you for another wonderful recipe. Second, thank you for saving the kitten. I, too, faced a similar situation a few months ago--minus the speeding car and the fleas. I found a half-starved, tiny kitten in the road, trying to catch a bug. Like your cat, my two rescue boys hated her on sight and refused to enter the house while she was in it. I've had her two months now, and I hate to tell you this, Ania, but now that she's a little bigger, the boys don't run anymore, and she wraps her little paws around one as they sleep together. Granted, female cats are notorious for not accepting new females into their domain, but once the little one is healthy and growing, Tina might find she likes having a companion. Just saying . . . In the meantime, she is a very luck y girl that you two found her and are caring for her.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks for your support, Judy! Glad to hear that your 'catgate' end up so amicably ;) What a lovely story! We will see how things progress but, Tina's temper tantrums aside, we are not in a position to have another house cat anyway so we will do our best to find her a loving owner once she is well again. Ania
Johanne:
Ania you are encouraging my obsession with squash and pumpkin. The photos on this one are particularly enticing with the repeating points of earthy orange, fiery red and brilliant green. Why don't you contact HydraArk about the new kitten. They are super friendly and helpful. If you make up a little bio for the kitten replete with photos many of us would share it on Facebook .-Johanne
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Johanne! Glad to hear that you like my new recipe and thanks for the tip about HydraArk - we will look into it. For now, we want to make sure that she is 100% before we scrub her up for the photos etc. She is still in a bit of a shock and not fully recovered yet, which is not surprising given what a day (life up until now) she has had. She is looking a bit better each day so we are hopeful :)
Lee:
Love this recipe! Will try it soon :) About the kitty, I cannot say enough how happy I ham that you found her and are taking care of her - she is very lucky! I had a simillar situation a few months ago and I was very fortunate to have found my street kitties a forever home where they are being treated with love! I hope you find a home for your foster kitty soon*
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw, thanks Lee! We hope so too although it will be very hard to say 'goodbye' as we fell for that little sweetie already. So awesome that you rescued one too! x
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