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This amazing Khao Soi recipe is for the most famous noodle dish in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Easy to make, this fragrant coconut curry broth with chicken is to die for!
What is Khao Soi
Khao Soi, is the most famous noodle dish in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. It is an absolutely delicious rich and creamy coconut curry noodle soup.
The dish is made using two types of noodles. Soft, flat noodles served with the curry soup and fried crispy noodles as toppings.
Khao Soi is most traditionally made with chicken, though you’ll find beef or pork varieties.
Traditionally, the condiments that accompany Khao Soi are pickled cabbage, raw shallots, and a wedge of fresh lime juice.
In Thailand, Khao Soi is typically eaten with chopsticks and a large spoon. You’ll find the dish in Thai restaurants across the country and it is commonly available in Chiang Mai.
READ MORE: 15 of the Best Authentic Chiang Mai Food and Where to Eat It
History of Khao Soi
Although the origins of Khao Soi are unclear, it is believed to have come from the south of China, with Chinese Yunnanese Muslims.
These traders were believed to have been in the spice trade in northern Thailand, which at the time was part of the Lanna Empire.
The Lanna Empire extended across northern Thailand and parts of present-day Myanmar and Laos.
As a result, khao soi coconut curry noodle soup is a combination of multiple cultural influences.
In northern Thailand, khao soi is one of the most popular soups, though you’ll find it across the country, and also internationally.
Chicken Khao Soi was our favorite noodle dish in Chiang Mai and we enjoyed it at every opportunity we had.
READ MORE: Best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai: 11+ Best Places To Eat Authentic Chiang Mai Noodles
Discovering Khao Soi in Chiang Mai
While in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, exploring the local food specialties. We fell in love with Khao Soi, which is considered the emblematic dish of Chiang Mai.
After eating khao soi at several different local eateries throughout the city, we decided to take a cooking class to learn how to make it.
In a lively Chiang Mai cooking class, we had fun chopping, slicing, and preparing khao soi from scratch.
The secret to a good khao soi we learned, is the curry paste. And the idea is to adjust it to suit your tastes.
Once you’re set with the curry paste, preparing the khao soi with the ingredients is pretty simple.
READ MORE: 6 of The Best Chiang Mai Cooking Classes For Thai Cuisine
Easy Khao Soi Recipe – How To Make Chiang Mai Noodles
Making Khao Soi is not complicated. You need a handful of ingredients and the willingness to try something new.
These are the essential ingredients needed to make this Chiang Mai noodles recipe:
- 2 chicken drumsticks
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 350 ml full-fat coconut milk
- Fresh egg noodles
- Fish sauce
- Fried egg noodles or wonton wrappers
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Check our other Thai Recipe and learn to make Thai Roti The Best Crispy Thai Banana Pancake
Khao Soi Recipe Tips
How To Make Crispy Noodles
This easy khao soi recipe is made using two types of cooked noodles. You need fresh egg noodles for the curry noodle soup and crispy noodles for the topping.
To make crispy noodles at home, simply heat oil in a deep frying pan and cook the noodles until they turn golden brown and are crispy.
Transfer the cooked noodles onto a paper towel, so that the oil drains.
An even easier alternative is to buy wonton strips from Amazon and have them delivered to your home.
Khao Soi Thai Seasoning as a Substitute
For this khao soi Chiang Mai recipe, we make a simple and authentic curry paste. Using a mortar and pestle, we crush a few chilis, ginger, and spices to make a homemade curry paste.
Using a mortar and pestle works faster than a knife to crush, pound garlic and smash ginger or chiles into a paste.
It’s more manual than using a food processor, but you have complete control over the consistency.
If you don’t want to crush your ingredients to make a khao soi paste, you can order a Khao Soi seasoning pack and have it delivered to your home.
READ MORE: Chiang Mai Food Tour: The Best Foodie Experience You Want To Take
Khao Soi Step by Step Instructions
Make Khao Soi Paste
Start by assembling all your ingredients for the curry paste together. Place the correct amount into the mortar and mix well with the pestle.
Feel free to add a little oil to make a smooth paste. You can also taste the paste as you grind it and adjust the ingredients to suit your own curry paste taste.
Cook Chicken Thighs in Coconut Milk
Pour coconut milk into a pot and bring it to a boil. Add your homemade curry paste and mix until it combines with the coconut milk.
Allow the chicken thighs to simmer in the mixture for about 30-mins until the chicken is cooked.
Assemble Khao Soi Chicken Curry Soup
Place cooked egg noodles in a bowl. Add chicken thigh, noodle soup, crispy wontons and garnish noodle soup with sides
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Khao Soi Recipe
Ingredients
For the curry paste
- ½ tsp coriander grounded
- zest of lime
- lemongrass
- ½ tsp dried turmeric
- 2 shallots small, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- ½ tbsp ginger fresh, chopped
- 1 tsp  yellow curry powder
For the soup
- 2 chicken legs
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 12 oz coconut milk  full-fat
- 1 tbsp  fish sauce
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 cup  egg noodles
For the toppings
- Crispy shallots
- Red onions slices
- Cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Chili Oil
- wonton wrappers or fried egg noodles
Instructions
For the noodles
- Start by making the fried noodles first.
- Heat some vegetable oil in a pot and lightly fry the fresh noodles, stirring occasionally until browned and crispy.
- Drain the crispy fried egg noodles onto a paper towel and set aside.
For the curry paste
- To make the curry paste add the dried chilies, lemongrass, ginger, shallots, turmeric, ground coriander, curry powder, and lime zest in a mortar and make a paste.
- You can add some oil to make it more smooth.
For Khao Soi soup
- For the khao soi curry noodle soup add â…“ of the coconut milk to a pot and bring to a boil.
- Add the curry paste and stir to mix until combined.
- Reduce the mixture until thick and let it darken for about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken legs, chicken stock, and the rest of the coconut milk.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer slowly for about 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
- Season the soup with fish sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice.
Assemble the dish
- To serve the khao soi, divide the cooked egg noodles into bowls, then pour the curry noodle soup over the noodles.
- Garnish with the crispy noodles, red onions, and chopped cilantro or coriander leaves.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Rosemary is the editor-in-chief and strategist at Authentic Food Quest.
Traveling slow since 2015 with her partner, Claire, she has explored the cuisine in 45 countries and more than 240+ culinary cities.
Her writing about local food specialties has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post.
As a food and travel writer, Rosemary has co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
Rosemary is an avid runner when she’s not eating and exploring new destinations. She has run ten marathons and counting.
Before Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary held senior-level strategy positions in advertising.Â
Find out more about Authentic Food Quest
What kind of dried chilis should I use for the curry paste.
Thanks for your question. In the recipe, we crush fresh red chilis to make the paste. We’ve not tried it with dried chilis, but you can try red chili pepper. Hope this helps, Cheers
Hey Rosemary!
I just read your article on the Easy Khao Soi recipe, and I must say, it left my mouth watering! Your vivid descriptions of the fragrant coconut curry broth and the crispy noodles as toppings made me feel like I was right there in Chiang Mai, experiencing the flavors myself. As someone who loves exploring different cuisines, your article has piqued my interest in Thai cuisine even more.
I appreciate how you not only shared the recipe but also delved into the history of Khao Soi. Learning about its origins from the Chinese Yunnanese Muslims and the influence of the Lanna Empire added an extra layer of fascination to this already delicious dish. It’s amazing to see how food can bring together different cultures and create something truly unique.
Thanks for sharing this delightful recipe and giving us a glimpse into the culinary traditions of Chiang Mai. I can’t wait to gather the ingredients and give it a try myself. Keep up the fantastic work of bringing authentic and flavorful food experiences to your readers!
Thank you for your kind words, Jack. This is one of our favorite Thai recipes and we hope you enjoy making it as much as we did. Cheers.
Great Recipe Thanks For Sharing
What a delicious and tasty looking recipe. Simple ingredients too…
Glad you like the recipe, Lubna. Just wait until you sink your teeth into it! Amazing 🙂
Such flavorful noodles! This takes me right back to my holiday years ago. Loved it!
Great to hear, Katherine. Now you can easily relive the flavors once again with this simple recipe. Cheers
These noodles were delicious. The flavours were incredible.
So thrilled to hear, Dannii. It is delightful. Chers
Thank you so much for this recipe! Made it last night and it took us right back to our honeymoon in Thailand! It tasted exactly like the dish we got served in a restaurant in Chiang Mai! Delicious!
Awesome to hear, Leva. So glad to you enjoyed the delicious recipe and a trip back to your honeymoon. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never heard of this recipe before but I can’t wait to try it tomorrow night. It has all my favourite flavours and my family love Thai food.
Great to hear, Amanda. With a family that already loves Thai food, this one will be a winner for sure. Let us know how it turns out. Cheers.