Vegan Keto Tom Kha Mushroom Soup is full of cancer-fighting nutrition

Vegan Tom Kha Mushroom Soup

by Maggie Jones

I’ve often made bold claims about my ability to survive on curry alone and in Thailand last December I had a chance to prove it. I had vegetable green curry for just about every meal – for the small remainder, I had a vegan variation on Tom Kha Gai. Zero regrets on both counts.

This Thai-style Tom Kha Mushroom soup is vegan, paleo, keto-friendly and anti-inflammatory.

Tom Kha Gai is a Thai coconut soup with chicken. Here, we’re swapping the “Gai” for medicinal mushrooms. You could also use tofu if that’s your thing – or shrimp or any other vegetables that strike your fancy.

While I eat about 80% raw, there are some things that I prefer cooked: specifically tomatoes and mushrooms. Tomatoes because, although their vitamin C is reduced with cooking, their antioxidants are massively increased. Mushrooms because they contain small amounts of toxins, including some compounds that are considered carcinogens and because some claim that heating breaks down their tough cell walls making their unique nutritrients more available.

Vegan Keto Tom Kha Mushroom Soup is healing and delicious

I’m super fortunate to live in Hong Kong where every market sells little Tom Kha kits with the aromatics, specifically lemongrass, galangal, shallots, kaffir lime leaves and a lime. I just set the lime aside, coarsely chop everything else, transfer the choppings to a nut bag, and toss it in the simmering broth.

You totally don’t have to use a nut milk bag or cheesecloth for the aromatics. I just started doing it because picking the galangal and lemongrass out of our soup became too much of a chore. Feel free to throw everything directly into the pot if that’s easier for you – it’s how it was served in Thailand. This soup is all about keeping it simple.

Speaking of keeping it simple, if you can’t get your hands on the exact ingredients, just use what you can find. Ginger can swap for galangal in a pinch and things like lemon basil would work for lemongrass. The final result may not be an exact “Tom Kha” but we’re going for delicious, healing nutrition here, not authenticity.

Vegan Keto Tom Kha Mushroom Soup is full of cancer-fighting nutrition

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4 comments

Jackie Reeves October 15, 2019 - 11:17 pm

Hi Maggie, I cannot find the recipe for the Tom Kha soup…I have scrolled all over the place, what am I missing?

Maggie Jones October 16, 2019 - 12:20 am

Ah! You must have mussed the post about my brain =D I completely forgot to activate the recipe – it’s added now.

Thank you so so much for letting me know!!

Linda October 22, 2020 - 1:03 am

Love your story, thanks for this recipe and I look forward to reading more …and thanks for a positive light , I needed that x

Maggie Jones October 22, 2020 - 3:35 am

Thank you so much! This means the world!

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