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Khao Soi: A Step-by-Step Guide to Northern Thai Noodles


Thai cuisine is known worldwide for its spices and variety. Thai curry, such as Thai green curry, Thai yellow curry, and Thai red curry, is known for its multilayered flavor and unique aroma. Coconut milk and coconut cream are the keys to the essence of coconut soups and curries. So, some Thai people develop their own coconut cream recipe to unlock the secrets of coconut soups. Another notable Thai dish is Khao Soi, which is popular with both locals and foreigners.

If you visit Northern Thailand for the first time, you must have heard of Khao Soi and wondered what it is. Khao Soi is a rich, creamy, and slightly spicy yellow curry dish unique to Northern Thailand. When traveling in Northern Thailand, you must have heard recommendations to try original Northern Thai noodles in specific places. Khao Soi in Chiang Mai and Khao Soi in Mae Sai, for instance, are famous for their authentic and aromatic Thai taste.

Even though Khao Soi is available in other regions of Thailand, such as Bangkok, it is well recognized that genuine Khao Soi in Bangkok is typically created by those from the north of Thailand. While eating out is a good choice, some people might prefer cooking the dish themselves. If you’re one of those who likes cooking, then this article is for you, for we have a Khao Soi recipe provided here so that you can show off your culinary skills.

 

Khao Soi

What is Khao Soi


According to a survey conducted in 2024 by TasteAtlas, an online food guide for foodies all around the world, Khao Soi was named the world’s best soup. Khao Soi is a creamy noodle soup dish from Northern Thailand that is unique both in taste and aroma. The creamy texture and mellow taste are perfectly blended with coconut milk or coconut cream, depending on the recipe.

But the secret to tasty dishes is there, lying in the richness of coconut soup, which harmonizes all flavors so well, making the sweetness and spice blend into perfection. The origin of Khao Soi is, however, unclear. It is speculated that Khao Soi originated in the north of the country with influences from Chinese Muslims from Yunnan and Myanmar noodle soup called “ohn no khao swè.”

 

Khao Soi Gai

Ingredients for cooking Khao Soi by yourself


Here are ingredients for cooking Khao Soi Gai (Chicken Khao Soi)

Ingredients for the curry paste


 Fresh Thai Peeled Garlic Cloves

Fresh Thai Red Onion (Shallots)

Red Curry Paste

Ground Turmeric (Haldi) Powder

Thai Pure Natural Palm Sugar

Ingredients for noodles


Asian Egg Noodles

Crispy Egg Noodles

Ingredients for the chicken and broth


Thai coconut milk (full fat is recommended!)

Thai Thin (light) Soy Sauce

Chicken Broth

Ingredients for serving


Fresh Asian Coriander

Simple steps to Northern Thai Noodles


Are you ready? Here are the simple steps to cook Khao Soi Gai (Khao Soi Chicken) by yourself.

  1. Warm cooking oil in a pan on medium heat. Then add some oil, garlic and shallots, stir for about 30 seconds.

  2. Add the red curry paste and turmeric. Stir and simmer the mixture until the paste darkens slightly and gets fully blended. This should take roughly 3 minutes.

  3. Add 1 cup of coconut milk slowly, stirring to blend. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes with the sauce bubbling until a layer of oil sits on the surface.

  4. Then, follow by adding the chicken drumsticks and simmering on medium-to-low heat until cooked through. Make sure that the chickens are not pink inside.

  5. Add the remaining cup of coconut milk and repeat step 4 until the oil rises to the surface again. You should keep on medium heat in this step.

  6. Add the chicken broth and bring the sauce to a simmer before adding the soy sauce and sugar to taste. Use low heat to keep the sauce warm.

  7. To prepare the noodles, boil a large pot of water and cook the egg noodles according to their instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse them with cold water.

  8. Serve the noodles in bowls and cover with the warm Khao Soi curry sauce and chicken pieces. If you like seasoning and garnishing, you can add fried noodles, coriander, sliced onions, and lemon wedges.


 

Khao Soi Chicken

Summary


Well, how has it tasted? A little spice with a mellow taste is perfectly blended with a rich texture, right? As you can see, Khao Soi is popular worldwide because of its layered, complex taste. The curry pastes indeed offer a colorful flavor, but turmeric helps heighten their aroma to the next level. Cooking homemade Khao Soi chicken is actually easy, and you can adapt Khao Soi recipe to match your preferences as well.

But if you’re not accustomed to Khao Soi and not sure what it should taste like, try tasting the dish from various sources across Thailand, especially Khao Soi in Chiang Mai or Mae Sai.

Two of the important ingredients that ensure deliciousness are curry paste and, especially, coconut milk. If you’re not sure which coconut milk to use, choose Sunlee. Specifically designed for all purposes while maintaining premium quality regardless of product form, Sunlee is your best friend for kitchen time. It will be a perfect choice for cooking homemade Khao Soi.

 

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