Sore Throat Soup

I, like the rest of the free world, am sick today. So far none of us have H1N1, but I do have a killer sore throat and a cough. This soup has been my favorite thing.

It's full of lovely ingredients that are good for you and really help my sore throat to feel better. So if you're into yummy food, whip up a pot of this and keep it in the fridge for a chilly or yucky afternoon.


The original recipe for this came from Lindsey of Cafe Johnsonia, but I make it differently than she does. Here is my version.

Thai Lemon Coconut Chicken Soup

2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
1 can coconut milk (use light if you are concerned about fat content)
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or homemade if you have it)
1 lemongrass stalk or several lemon balm leaves
Soy sauce
Mushrooms (shitake, baby crimini or button if nothing else)
Thai chilies (I used Thai chili oil and it worked just fine)
Zest and juice of 2 limes
Lemon juice
Chopped scallions or onion

Rice for serving

Simmer the coconut broth in a large pan. Add the lemongrass stalk and let it steep. (You can also add Kaffir lime leaves at this point, if you can find them.) Taste and see if the flavor is as strong as you like it. Bring it back to a simmer. Add the chicken, chicken broth, lime zest and juice, and mushrooms. Cook until the chicken is no longer raw. Add soy sauce, chili oil and lemon juice to taste (I like mine pretty lemony, not too salty and a little spicy.)

Ladle over hot rice and enjoy.