Thai Style Soup with Crispy Tofu

A deliciously creamy Thai inspired soup infused with lemongrass and ginger served with crispy tofu. (Vegan and Gluten free)

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp Coconut oil (for cooking)

• 1 Package of extra firm Tofu (can be found at Tesco or a Chinese supermarket)

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 1 Tbsp agave/honey

• 1 Tbsp sesame/olive oil

• 1 Onion, diced (I used a medium sized red onion)

• 2 Carrots, peeled and chopped into coins

• 1 Bunch of spring onions (I used 4)

• 4 Cloves of garlic, minced

• Approx inch sized piece of ginger, minced

• 1 stalk of lemongrass (can be found at Tesco or a Chinese supermarket), leave whole but cut an x into the bottom of the root end.

• 3 cups of vegetable stock (approx 750 ml)

• 1 can of coconut milk (can be found at Tesco or a Chinese supermarket)

• zest and juice of 1 lime

Pat dry the tofu and cut into cubes and place them in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the agave/honey, oil and soy sauce. In a large pot heat up 1 tbsp of the coconut oil on a medium heat. Pour the soy/oil/honey mixture over the tofu cubes, making sure that they are evenly coated, brown the tofu cubes on all sides and once done transfer them to a bowl to be used later.

Heat the second tbsp of coconut oil in the same pot and add the carrots and diced onion to be cooked down for approx 10 minutes. Add half of the chopped spring onions along with the minced garlic, ginger and whole stalk of lemongrass. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes. Add the coconut milk and the stock to the pot and bring up to a boil, once boiling, reduce to a simmer for a further 15 minutes.

Remove the stalk of lemongrass and season the soup with the lime juice and zest as well as any salt and pepper, if needed. Stack up some of the blocks of tofu in your serving bowl and pour the soup over. Use some of the uncooked spring onions for a little garnish along with leaves of coriander/mint (garnish is all optional if you’re just hungry and not bothered about making it look nice.)

Enjoy the soup! This just about serves 4 hungry guests or 2 very hungry chefs)