This Tom Kha Kai Is Better Than in Thailand
BAUT is a phenomenon – both in and far beyond Amsterdam. Chef-owner Michiel van der Eerde set the standard for pop-up restaurants in the Netherlands with his remarkable BAUT concept. BAUT stands for: raw, rebellious, idiosyncratic and above all – temporary. Because every time, BAUT moved to new, spectacular and temporary locations in the capital. Now, 8 years and 7 restaurants later, all the BAUT classics, such as this Tom Kha Kai, and stories have been bundled into one unique cookbook.
Michiel: “I used to go on holiday to Thailand quite often, and of course I regularly ate Tom Kha Kai there. And I often thought: I can do this better. There was demand for a little soup at lunchtime. So I seized my chance and created my own version, without the traditional garnishes. A soup so intense in flavor that we also use the base as a sauce for other dishes. And the organic chicken used in this soup is also many times more tender than in a traditional bowl of Tom Kha Kai from Thailand.”
How to make the Tom Kha Kai
- Cut the stems off the cilantro. Keep the leaves and let the stems infuse in the stock. Pour the chicken stock into a large pan and stir in the Tom kha kai paste until dissolved. Add all the remaining stock ingredients, bring to a boil and let the stock infuse over low heat until all the flavors have blended. Pour the stock through a sieve into a clean pan and discard the contents of the sieve.
- For the chicken, cut the ginger, chili pepper and lemongrass stalk into coarse pieces. Heat a frying pan until very hot, add the chicken thighs and brown them on all sides. Add the ginger, chili pepper and lemongrass and let everything cook over medium-high heat until the chicken is crispy and cooked through. Cut the chicken into small strips and set aside. Discard the remaining flavorings; they will not be used again.
- Cut the pak choi, spring onion, mushrooms and chili pepper into strips. Serve the soup in deep bowls and add a generous handful of garnish, then sprinkle the cilantro over the soup.
Title: BAUT
Author: Michiel van der Eerde
Price: €35
Publisher: Fontaine
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