Gai Tom Ka Sai Chicken Coconut Cream

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Elephant sanctuaries

📍 Where this dish comes from: Northern Thailand · Elephant sanctuaries
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Gai Tom Ka Sai Chicken Coconut Cream, plated and ready to serve

Where Tom Kha Gai uses a broth balanced with stock, Gai Tom Ka Sai uses pure coconut cream with very little liquid, creating a much richer, almost curry-like dish. The coconut cream is allowed to cook down until the oils separate and turn golden — this is called cracking the coconut cream, and it fundamentally changes the texture and flavour of the sauce.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Gai Tom Ka Sai Chicken Coconut Cream

Gai Tom Ka Sai Chicken Coconut Cream

A more decadent cousin of Tom Kha — chicken pieces simmered in pure coconut cream with galangal until the fat separates into golden pools.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 520kcal

Ingredients

  • 600 g chicken thigh pieces bone-in
  • 400 ml coconut cream
  • 100 ml chicken stock
  • 6 slices galangal
  • 3 stalks lemongrass bruised
  • 6 kaffir lime leaves
  • 3 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 4 bird's eye chilies
  • Coriander to serve

Instructions

  • Simmer coconut cream alone 5 minutes until it starts to crack (oil separates).
  • Add galangal, lemongrass, and kaffir lime. Infuse 5 minutes.
  • Add chicken pieces. Simmer 15 minutes.
  • Add stock and chilies. Continue simmering until the chicken is tender, about 20 minutes.
  • Season with fish sauce.
  • Finish with lime juice off heat.
  • Serve with coriander.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 520kcal | Protein: 38g | Fat: 40g | Fiber: 0.5g
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Cooking Gai Tom Ka Sai Chicken Coconut Cream in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • The coconut cream provides MCTs that support ketosis.
  • Bone-in chicken releases collagen and marrow into the sauce during cooking.
  • Galangal contains bioactive compounds such as galangin, studied for their antioxidant properties.

Pairs Well With

  • Cauliflower Khao Pad Thai Fried Rice
  • Jicama Som Tam Green Papaya Style Salad
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