Tom Kha Udon Soup with Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 can coconut milk
• 8 ounces udon noodles, cooked according to package instructions
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced or quartered, optional
• Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

1. Warm the vegetable oil in a large pot set over medium heat.
2. Stir in the garlic and ginger, and cook for 1 minute, keeping everything moving so the aromatics do not catch.
3. If you are using the mushrooms, add them to the pot and cook for 2 minutes, stirring now and then.
4. Pour in the vegetable broth, coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, and red pepper flakes. Bring the soup up to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add the cooked udon noodles and continue simmering for another 5 minutes, or until they are hot all the way through.
6. Ladle the soup into bowls while hot, and finish with chopped fresh cilantro if you like.