Thai Chicken and Coconut Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3), cut into 2 1/2-by-1/4-inch strips
• 3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (nam pla or nuoc mam)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 quart plus 3/4 cup canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
• 3 stalks lemongrass, bottom third only, peeled, smashed, and cut into 2-inch pieces, or three 3-inch-by-1/4-inch strips lemon zest
• 1 1- inch piece peeled fresh ginger, cut into thirds
• 1/2 cup long-grain rice
• 1 3/4 cups unsweetened coconut milk (15-ounce can)
• 2 fresh red chiles or jalapeño peppers, seeds and ribs removed, cut crosswise into thin slices
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Preparation

1. 1. In a medium glass dish or stainless-steel pan, combine the chicken strips with the fish sauce and lime juice. Set aside.
2. 2. In a large saucepan, bring the broth, lemongrass, and ginger to a simmer. Add the rice; simmer until the rice is almost done, about 15 minutes.
3. 3. Add the coconut milk and bring back to a simmer. Stir in the chicken and marinade and cook until the chicken is just done, about 2 minutes. Stir in the chiles and cilantro.
4. Wine Recommendation: Semidry German riesling proves its food-friendliness by complementing this complex soup.
5. Notes: Asian fish sauce is available at Asian markets and many supermarkets