Thai-Flavored Chicken Vegetable Soup

A local Thai restaurant makes an amazing soup called Tom Ka.  I found a basic carrot, cilantro recipe in a cookbook and added things to make it fuller and heartier.  It isn't Tom Ka but we all really enjoyed the flavors.  It went together in about 1/2 hour from start to finish.  Some of the ingredients aren't easy to find in the general grocery store (five-spice powder) but our nearby Asian market has a great selection.  

INGREDIENTS

3 1/2 c. chicken stock

2 garlic cloves minced

2 dried red chili peppers (leave whole and remove before serving)

1 thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and diced into small pieces

1/2 medium onion, diced.

2-3 medium carrots cut into thin circles

3/4 cup celery, diced

1/2 orange bell pepper, diced  (red bell pepper is also fine)

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

1-14 oz can coconut milk

1-10 oz can chicken breast, diced with juice

1- 4 oz. can shitake mushrooms w/juice

4 oz. thin rice noodles.

2-3 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp. sesame oil

1/4 tsp. ground pepper.

1/4 tsp. five spice powder. 

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare and dice all the vegetables.  

In a nice size soup pot, add a little olive oil and saute the onions, carrots and celery and whole red peppers.  (This didn't make the soup spicy but did add flavor.  I removed them before serving.) Red pepper flakes added to the soup or hot chili oil will add more spice for those that enjoy spicy.)

When onions are translucent, add the ginger and garlic and stir for another 30 seconds.

Add the chicken broth, can of diced chicken with juices and the can of shiitake mushrooms with liquid, add five spice powder, pepper and salt to taste.  (I didn't add any.  The broth was salty and so is the soy sauce.)

Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.  Simmer about 5-8 minutes.

Add coconut milk, soy sauce, sesame oil.  Simmer for a minute or two.

Add rice noodles.  Stir well and simmer for another 3-4 minutes to soften the rice noodles.

Finally, add the chopped cilantro.  Let simmer for about 20-30 seconds and serve.