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Home » Recipes » Vegan Gluten-Free Recipes » Thai Noodle Soup with Tofu

Thai Noodle Soup with Tofu

by Sarah McMinn / Posted: October 23, 2019 / Updated: July 2, 2020 / Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Total Time: 30 mins

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You’re going to love this rich and creamy Thai Noodle Soup with tofu and eggplant. A hearty and delicious Thai soup for the perfect vegan and gluten-free meal. Made in just 30 minutes! 
You’re going to love this rich and creamy Thai Noodle Soup with tofu and eggplant. A hearty and delicious Thai soup for the perfect vegan and gluten-free meal. Made in just 30 minutes! 

You’re going to love this rich and creamy Thai Noodle Soup with tofu and eggplant. A hearty and delicious Thai soup for the perfect vegan and gluten-free meal. Made in just 30 minutes!

Thai Noodle Soup with chopsticks

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

It's a cozy Thai Soup kind of day.

The rain has been falling on and off for a week and I'm inside my house trying to feel warm and cozy as the winter months approach. How do I do that? Well, I either start baking all the vegan cookies (not a bad idea...but will save for another day) or fill my house with the delicious smells of warm vegan soup.

Yes, today, I'm going with the delicious smells of vegan soup - Thai Noodle Soup, to be exact. And I think you're going to love it. This Thai Curry soup is filled with sweet and creamy flavors, tons of vegetables, and hearty proteins for the perfect meal that will get you feeling warm and cozy.

Let's take a closer look...

Ingredients for Thai Noodle Soup

Table of Contents show
Recommended Ingredients & Equipment
How to Make Thai Noodle Soup
Serving and Storing
Frequently Asked Questions
More Vegan Curry Recipes
More Vegan Soup Recipes
Thai Noodle Soup with Tofu

Recommended Ingredients & Equipment

This Coconut Curry Soup is super easy to make. Most Thai soups can be made in about 30 minutes with just a handful of ingredients. Better yet, this recipe is wildly versatile. Vegetables, spices, and proteins can be swapped out to make a different meal every time.

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Oil - I recommend coconut oil but you could also use peanut or sesame oil.
  • Extra-Firm Tofu - Look for extra-firm tofu that is not water-packed, such as Trader Joe’s High-Protein Tofu or Super Firm or Sprouted Tofu. These types of tofu do not have excess water and do not need to be pressed. If you have to use water-packed tofu make sure to press as much water as you can out of it first.
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Yellow Onion
  • Red Bell Pepper
  • Eggplant - If you don't like eggplant, you can substitute it with button mushrooms or omit it altogether.
  • Red Curry Paste
  • Vegetable Broth
  • Coconut Milk - This recipe calls for full-fat canned coconut milk. For a lighter option, use light coconut milk.
  • Rice Noodles - You can either use brown or white noodles. For a grain free option, try zucchini noodles.
  • Salt
  • Lime
  • Herbs - You will need fresh cilantro and basil.

Recommended Equipment

Most importantly, you will need a good soup pot. I love my Dutch Oven from Le Creuset for soups. Made from cast iron, they are perfect for slow cooking and simmering soups and stews. Although it’s a bit pricey, you will use it over and over again (for soups, stews, sides, bread, and even desserts!) and it will last you a lifetime.

In addition, you will need a good chef’s knife, cutting board, and basic kitchen utensils. (<<affiliate links)

Check out the full list of my recommended kitchen tools and gadgets.


How to Make Thai Noodle Soup

Step One – Pan-Fry to the Tofu

Heat two tablespoons of coconut oil over high heat. Once the oil is super hot, add the tofu – it should sizzle when it hits the pan – and pan-fry the tofu for 3-5 minutes until it is evenly browned on all sides.

For more details, read How to Make Perfectly Crispy Tofu.

Pan-Fried Tofu in Sauté pan

Step Two – Make the Soup

Add the remaining coconut oil to your soup pot and return to medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, sauté the onions and garlic until they are translucent and fragrant. This takes about 2-3 minutes. Once they have filled your house with the sweet aroma of onions, add the ginger, red bell pepper, and eggplant. Sauté for an additional 3-5 minutes until the eggplant is browned on all sides (see pictures below).

Sautéed eggplant and peppers in soup pot

Stir in the curry paste, tofu, vegetable broth, and coconut milk and bring the soup to a simmer. Once the soup is simmering, add your rice noodles and cook until the rice noodles are tender. This should just take 4-5 minutes.

Thai Noodle Soup in soup pot

Serving and Storing

Serve the soup hot with fresh cilantro and basil.

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To eat leftovers, gently reheat the stir fry over the stove or in the microwave.


Frequently Asked Questions

Is this curry soup recipe gluten-free?

Yes, it is! Rice noodles are naturally gluten-free

Is this Thai noodle soup keto-friendly?

Sure! Just omit the rice noodles or swap them out for zucchini noodles.

What is the best tofu to use?

For this recipe, look for extra-firm tofu that is not water-packed, such as Trader Joe’s High-Protein Tofu or Super Firm or Sprouted Tofu. These types of tofu do not have excess water and do not need to be pressed.

If you have to use water-packed tofu make sure to press as much water as you can out of it first by using a tofu press(<<affiliate link) or a weighted, towel-lined cutting board. Press the tofu for at least 1 hour.

Thai Noodle Soup with Chopsticks

More Vegan Curry Recipes

  • Red Lentil Cauliflower Curry
  • Eggplant and Chickpea Curry
  • Thai Sweet Potato Curry
  • Thai Green Curry
  • Pumpkin Peanut Curry with Tofu

More Vegan Soup Recipes

  • Creamy Tomato Soup
  • French Lentil Soup
  • Cream of Cauliflower Soup
  • Chickpea Noodle Soup
  • Miso Noodle Soup

Thai Noodle Soup with chopsticks

Thai Noodle Soup with Tofu

You’re going to love this rich and creamy Thai Noodle Soup with tofu and eggplant. A hearty and delicious Thai soup for the perfect vegan and gluten-free meal. Made in just 30 minutes! 
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 364kcal
Author: Sarah McMinn

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp. coconut oil, divided
  • 8 oz extra-firm tofu, cut into 1" cubes
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
  • ½ medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced
  • ½ medium eggplant, cut into 1" cubes
  • 2-3 tbsp. red curry paste
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 (15 oz )can full-fat coconut milk
  • 8 oz brown rice noodles
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • juice of 2 lime
  • ¼ cup cilantro, minced
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, minced
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Start by preparing the vegetables
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the tofu in the hot oil and pan-fry for 3-5 minutes, until tofu is brown on all sides. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 3-5 minutes, until the onions are translucent and fragrant. Stir in the ginger and sauté for an additional minute. Add the bell pepper and eggplant and continue to sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes until eggplant begins to brown.
  • Stir in the red curry paste until the vegetables are fully coated. Add the tofu, vegetable broth, and coconut milk to the soup pot. Bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
  • Add brown rice noodles and continue to cook the soup until the noodles are tender, about an additional 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add lime juice, salt, cilantro, and basil.
  • Serve immediately with extra lime wedges.

Notes

Serving and Storing - Serve the soup hot with fresh cilantro and basil. Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To eat leftovers, gently reheat the stir fry over the stove or in the microwave.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 1716mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 3358IU | Vitamin C: 56mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
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Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a 14-year (and counting) vegan, professionally trained photographer, former pastry chef, founder of My Darling Vegan, and author of the 4-Week Vegan Meal Plan.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kimberly says

    October 18, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    5 stars
    I must say this recipe was so delicious. The prep time was longer than I preferred, but It was so worth it. All of the flavors exploded in my mouth. This definitely will be made again!

    Reply
  2. Moxy says

    September 21, 2020 at 7:42 am

    5 stars
    Shut. The. Front. Door!
    This soup was absolutely amazing! Made it for dinner tonight. Super yummy! Both my mom and my husband (who are non-vegetarians) liked it very much, too.
    I was able to follow most of the recipe except for the eggplants and brown rice noodles, which i don't have on hand right now. I used the regular white rice noodles.
    I'm already planning to add some bean sprouts and bok choy in my soup bowl next time (and believe you me, 'next time' will be very soon!).
    Thank you so much for this recipe! Cheers from the Philippines! 🙂

    Reply
  3. DIANNE THOMPSON says

    January 14, 2020 at 3:06 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for this delicious soup recipe! It was the first big snow of the winter here and a hearty soup was just what we needed! Well, I needed an eggplant to make it exactly the same, but several large crimini mushrooms, each cut into eight wedges, was a great substitute.

    I fried half the pressed tofu and kept the other 'fresh' to test our preference: hubby didn't mention any difference and I thought both were fine, the fried just had more chew to it. So, if avoiding oil or wanting to save time, as long as the tofu has been pressed well to remove excess water, I think it holds up fine and gives a very fresh taste.

    We usually use green Thai curry paste, but used the lesser amount of red per your recipe and it was wonderful. My husband's words were, "This is seasoned perfectly!" This is now saved to my Pinterest 'Soups and Stews' board - I'll be making it often!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 15, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for your review.

      Reply
  4. Louise says

    October 23, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    My grandson would love this soup. What would you suggest to replace the eggplant, he’s not a fan

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      October 24, 2019 at 8:17 am

      You can just omit the eggplant or add something like zucchini.

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Sarah McMinn, author and recipe developer here at My Darling Vegan. I am a classically trained chef and professional photographer. With 14 years of vegan experience, my goal is to make vegan eating easy, fun, and accessible for all.

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Hi! I’m Sarah McMinn, author and recipe developer here at My Darling Vegan. I am a classically trained chef and professional photographer. With 14 years of vegan experience, my goal is to make vegan eating easy, fun, and accessible for all.

More about me →

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