Gaeng Som
Sour-spicy southern Thai soup with fish and vegetables.
Ingredients
- 400 g White fish fillet
- 3 tbsp Red curry paste
- 2 tbsp Tamarind paste
- 3 tbsp Fish sauce
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 150 g Green beans
- ½ Cauliflower
- 1200 ml Chicken stock
Method
- Cut the fish and vegetables into pieces.
- Whisk the curry paste into the stock and bring to a simmer.
- Add the vegetables and simmer until tender, balancing with the tamarind, fish sauce, and sugar.
- Slip in the fish and cook gently until just done.
- Serve hot with rice.
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About Gaeng Som
Gaeng som is the fierce sour curry of southern Thailand, a thin, brothy soup built to be bracingly tart and hot rather than rich, and it sits at the opposite end of the Thai curry spectrum from coconut-smoothed dishes like green curry. Its name means 'orange curry,' a nod to the color of a paste built on dried chilies and turmeric, and the soup lives or dies on the balance between three loud voices: sour tamarind, salty fish sauce, and a little sugar to round the edges. There is no coconut milk here at all, which is what keeps it light and lets the sourness ring clear.
On the spoon it is fresh, punchy and appetite-sharpening, the tamarind hitting first, chili heat building behind it, and pieces of delicate white fish and crunchy vegetables like green beans and cauliflower giving it substance. This version is smart about the fish, slipping it in only at the end so it poaches gently and stays in intact flakes rather than shredding into the broth, and it invites you to taste and re-balance the tamarind, fish sauce and sugar right before serving, since the sour point is a matter of feel. Traditionally eaten as part of a shared meal alongside rice, it is naturally lean and vegetable-heavy, which is why it lands as high-protein and low-calorie while still tasting like a full, warming bowl.
Gaeng Som: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Gaeng Som?
A serving has about 285 calories — 27.5g protein, 28.6g carbs, 6.7g fat, 3.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 27.5g of protein, roughly 39% of its calories.
Is Gaeng Som gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Gaeng Som has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How many servings does Gaeng Som make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.