Tom Kha Salmon

This is my take on Tom Kha Gai or Chicken Galangal Soup. It was actually based on my craving for bouillabaisse.  I chose salmon because even if it's overused in Thai cuisine, not many places do it right.  It always come over cooked.

I also wanted a soup that is thick but not heavy.  So I added mashed salmon meat.  The hot soup is then poured over fresh salmon to cook it just right.

I omitted mushrooms in this recipe simply because I don't like mushrooms in galangal soup.  You can add them if you want.

1. Bring the water to a boil. Add in the galangal, lemongrass, coriander roots and shallots. Don’t add the lime juice, lime leaves and chilies now. Lime loses much of its taste when it is heated. I prefer to squeeze it in just before serving. The later two tends to become bitter when cooked for a long time. Coconut milk is also added before serving. Cooking it for a long time will cause the coconut oil to separate and soup will become a nasty grease meal.

Wait for the above to come to a boil again before adding the salmon carcass. And do not stir until the water comes to a boil again.

I don’t know the scientific explanation behind it, but this is a common Thai tip for cooking fish. You only add or stir when the water is boiling hot. Doing this will ensure that the soup won’t smell fishy in a bad way.

2. When the water is boiling again, turn down the heat to low. Let simmer for an hour or until there are about 2 cups of stock left.

3. Strain the soup and throw away the galangal, shallots, coriander roots and lemongrass. Set aside. Pick out the salmon meat from the carcass. You should get about 3/4 cup. Mash finely, pick out any stray bones and add back to stock. This will give you a flavorful and thick soup without being heavy. At this point, you can also freeze the stock for later use.

4. Just before serving, put the salmon cubes into individual bowls. Top with fried chilies and coriander leaves. Set aside.

5. Bring the stock to a boil. Add the coconut milk and chilies. And if you want mushrooms in the galangal soup, this is the time to add them. Crush the lime leaves with your hands to release the aromatic oil and tear them into tiny pieces. Add into soup. When it comes to a boil again, season with fish sauce and palm sugar. Use the palm sugar sparingly. It’s just to round off the taste not make the soup sweet.

Bring it off the heat. Add the lime juice. Give it a quick stir. Taste again. The soup should be a harmonious blend of sour, salty, and spicy. If not, add more of the seasoning as needed.

Pour the hot soup over the fresh salmon cubes, and serve.

There you have it. Thick salmon galangal soup with salmon that is cooked just right.