I had a friend over for lunch the other day and served her this hearty stew filled with Asian-flavored turkey meatballs and crunchy vegetables in a light coconut broth. It was colorful, flavorful and satisfying. I only wish I had doubled the recipe! 

When I was at the store buying ingredients for the soup, the Roma tomatoes were pretty sad looking so I went with 3/4 cup of canned diced tomatoes (drained) instead. For a fun presentation, eat the soup with Asian soup spoons (available at many kitchen stores and Asian markets). Enjoy!

Singapore Turkey Stew
-adapted from The Sunset Cookbook (Oxmoor House, 2010)

Notes: If you can’t find Chinese five spice, substitute equal parts ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger, and ground anise seeds.

Makes 4 servings

1 pound ground lean turkey
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice (see notes)
1/2 teaspoon hot chili flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 can (13 1/2 oz.) coconut milk
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) fat-skimmed chicken broth
1 head bok choy (12 oz.), rinsed, stem end trimmed, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (14 oz.) baby corn, drained
2 Roma tomatoes (about 8 oz. total), rinsed, cored, and chopped
(I used 3/4 cup diced canned tomatoes, drained)
1/4 cup drained canned sliced water chestnuts
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

In a large bowl, mix ground turkey, five spice, chili flakes, and salt. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Pour flour onto a large rimmed plate and roll balls in flour to coat lightly.

Pour oil into a 4- to 5-quart nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add meatballs in a single layer. Cook, turning frequently, until lightly browned all over and barely pink in the center (cut to test), 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate.

Add garlic and ginger to pan and stir just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add coconut milk, broth, and meatballs; bring to a simmer. Adjust heat to maintain a simmer, cover, and cook until meatballs are no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes.

Stir in bok choy, baby corn, tomatoes, water chestnuts, green onions, lime juice, soy sauce and cook, stirring often, until bok choy leaves are wilted and stems are barely tender to bite, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve from pan.

Tags: baby corn, bok choy, chicken broth, Chinese five-spice, coconut milk, fresh ginger, ground turkey, Singapore Turkey Stew, turkey meatballs, water chestnuts

If you’re looking for a new way to eat winter squash, you must try this Thai-inspired recipe! The velvety texture of the butternut squash and coconut soup is brought to life by the vibrant flavors of the chopped peanut, lime zest and basil gremolata. Typically, gremolata is an Italian condiment of lemon zest, garlic and parsley but it gets a fun, updated twist here.

This recipe calls for using a slow cooker but I skipped that method and made it in a saucepan on the stove. I simmered the cubed squash in the broth and coconut milk for about 30 minutes (until tender) then pureed it with my immersion blender (aka handheld blender). Spoon some of the Thai gremolata onto each serving and you’ve got a tasty light meal.

Note: as with any hot soup, let it cool before processing in a blender or you might spray scalding soup all over you and your kitchen. It’s one of the reasons I use an immersion blender for this kind of recipe…it can be blended hot right in the soup pot.

Butternut Squash Soup with Thai Gremolata
-recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Slow Cook: 4 to 5 hours (low) or 2 to 2 1/2 hours (high)
 
2  lb.  butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2  cups  chicken broth
1  14-oz. can  unsweetened coconut milk
1/4  cup  finely chopped onion
1  Tbsp.  packed brown sugar
1  Tbsp.  fish sauce or soy sauce
1/2  to 1 tsp.  Asian chili sauce (Sriracha) sauce or crushed red pepper
2  Tbsp.  lime juice
1  recipe  Thai Gremolata, recipe below

In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker stir together squash, broth, coconut milk, onion, brown sugar, fish sauce, and Asian chili sauce.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 2-1/2 hours.

Use an immersion blender to carefully blend soup until completely smooth. (Or, transfer the mixture in batches to a food processor or blender; or use a potato masher to mash mixture nearly smooth.) Stir in lime juice. Ladle into bowls and top with Thai Gremolata. If desired, serve with lime wedges.

Thai Gremolata: In a small bowl stir together 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil or cilantro, 1/2 cup chopped peanuts, and 1 tablespoon finely shredded lime peel.

Tags: butternut squash soup with Thai gremolata, chicken broth, chopped peanuts, coconut milk, lime zest, soy sauce, Sriracha

If you’re looking for a flavorful, exotically-spiced soup then you’ve got to try this recipe! I love the rich combination of curry, coconut milk, peanut butter and sweet potatoes! I made it for the first time a few years ago for Husband and some of his work buddies. The soup received raves from Husband and his pals.

I followed the recipe but simplified a few of the steps. I microwaved the sweet potatoes instead of roasting them, (which saved a ton of time) and used a 14.5-oz can of diced tomatoes instead of buying and roasting Romas. After pureeing the soup, added chopped carrots for extra veggie content (spinach is also a good addition, adding it right before serving). I also added the raw chicken pieces to the soup without searing it first. The soup is so flavorful with all the other ingredients that you’ll never miss the extra step. Plus, you’ll save yourself a few extra minutes and have one less pan to wash. You can use chicken breasts or thighs for this soup—both are great so go with what’s on sale.

Senegalese Peanut Soup with Chicken
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, foodnetwork.com 

Serves: 2 qts, 4 to 6 servings.

3/4 pound sweet potatoes
5 tablespoons peanut oil
8 each Roma tomatoes, halved and seeded
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 cup onions, julienned
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 quart chicken broth
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons chopped, roasted peanuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Coat the sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil and place in an oven-proof pie tin. Place the pie tin in the oven and roast the sweet potatoes for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the potatoes are fully roasted and fork tender. Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, remove the skin from the potatoes and discard them. Reserve the sweet potato flesh until ready to use.

Place the tomatoes in a small mixing bowl and coat with 1 tablespoon of peanut oil. Lay the tomatoes on a baking sheet, skin side up, and season with salt and pepper. Place the sheet pan in the oven and roast the tomatoes until the skins are caramelized and wilted, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the tomatoes from the oven, discard the skins, and set the tomatoes aside until ready to use.

Set a 1 gallon stockpot over a medium high heat and add 2 tablespoons of peanut oil. Add the curry powder to the pot and toast for about 30 to 45 seconds, stirring constantly. Add the onions and saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the cayenne pepper and chicken stock to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer.

Add the roasted sweet potatoes and tomatoes to the soup. Add the peanut butter and coconut milk to the pot and stir to blend. Let simmer for 10 minutes, and blend with an immersion blender or in batches in a bar blender until smooth. Season with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and, if necessary, more pepper.

Season the chicken pieces with the remaining teaspoon of salt and the white pepper, and sear in a hot saute pan with the remaining 1 tablespoon of peanut oil for 5 minutes. Add the seared chicken to the pot. Cook until the chicken is tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.

To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with extra cilantro and the chopped peanuts.

Tags: African, Chicken, cilantro, coconut milk, curry, peanut butter, peanut soup, Senegalese, sweet potatoes

I seriously could eat Thai food everyday and be completely happy, and that’s saying a lot because I love variety. Thai soup is actually comfort food for me. When I’m getting a scratchy throat, I send Husband to the local Thai restaurant for some take-out soup. There’s something about the spicy broth that does wonders for me. This soup is a little different than the one I order at a Thai restaurant but just as delicious.

I pretty much followed the recipe with the exception of a few additions. I substituted a teaspoon of ground coriander for the coriander seeds (didn’t have them and didn’t want to buy them). Because I wanted the soup to be spicy, I added more green curry paste (at least twice as much…taste as you go if you add more). I also added carrots, thinly sliced onions and sliced mushrooms to the simmering soup; a few minutes before serving, I added a few handfuls of fresh spinach. Once the spinach wilted, I served the soup. Also, taste for seasoning before adding salt to the finished soup…I didn’t think it needed it. The curry, coconut milk and ginger blended together to make an exotic, fragrant and very flavorful soup, while the snow peas and other vegetables added crunch and color.  

Thai-Style Chicken and Rice Soup
- recipe from Gourmet Magazine – www.epicurious.com

Using shrimp instead of chicken in this recipe makes for an equally delicious soup.

Yield: Makes 8 main-course servings

8 cups chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth (64 fl oz)
4 cups water
1 tablespoon Thai green curry paste*
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 (2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
2 cups loosely packed whole fresh cilantro leaves plus 1/2 cup chopped (from 2 large bunches)
1 cup jasmine rice
3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced crosswise, then slices cut lengthwise into thin strips, or 3/4 lb medium shrimp in shell (31 to 35 per lb), peeled and deveined
1 (13- to 14-oz) can unsweetened coconut milk, stirred well
1/4 lb snow peas, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1/4-inch strips
2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

Accompaniment: lime wedges 

Combine stock, water, curry paste, garlic, ginger, coriander seeds, and whole cilantro leaves in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, then simmer, uncovered, until ginger is softened, about 15 minutes. Pour through a paper-towel-lined sieve into a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot and discard solids. Stir rice into soup and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 15 minutes.
 
Add chicken or shrimp and poach at a bare simmer, uncovered, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in coconut milk, snow peas, and fish sauce and simmer, uncovered, until peas are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice, salt, and chopped cilantro.

*Available at Asian markets, some specialty foods shops, and some supermarkets.

Tags: Asian, Chicken, coconut milk, curry, Soup/Stew