Simple Lau Thai recipe – Hot pot noodle soup (vegan)

Easy Lau Thai recipe – delicious broth, rich flavors, twirly noodles and so much goodness packed into one healthy cozy bowl of Lau Thai noodle soup. Lau Thai is a delicious and flavorful soup that originates from Thailand. It typically consists of a spicy and sour broth filled with a variety of vegetables, herbs, and protein such as tempeh, mushrooms, or tofu. We’re talking amazing flavors, hot broth, sweet and sour taste, and so much goodness. This Thai Cuisine Tom Yum soup recipe is one of my favorite thai foods. It’s ready to be the star of your dining table menu. 

Here are some reasons why you might love eating Lau Thai:

1. Bursting with flavor: The soup has a complex flavor profile that combines spicy, sour, and sweet notes to create a truly unique taste. The combination of lemongrass, ginger, lime, and chili peppers gives the soup an unforgettable taste that you won’t find in any other dish.

2. Healthy and nutritious: Lau Thai is loaded with fresh vegetables, which provide a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are essential for a healthy diet. The protein in the soup, such as shrimp or tofu, will also help keep you feeling full and satisfied.

3. Thirdly, it’s so easy to customize: Whether you prefer your soup spicy or mild, with chicken or tofu, or with extra vegetables, Lau Thai is a dish that can be easily customized to suit your individual preferences.

4. Also, it’s Comforting and warming: The hot and steamy broth of Lau Thai is perfect for warming you up on a cold day or for comforting you when you’re feeling under the weather.

There are so many great things about Lau Thai, where do I even begin?

Firstly, I love that it’s a communal dish that brings people together. There’s nothing quite like bonding with family and friends over a delicious meal, and Lau Thai is the perfect dish for that.

Secondly, the variety of ingredients you can add to the pot means that there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a meat lover or a vegetarian, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Thirdly, I love the flavorful broth the ingredients are cooked in. It’s usually made with a combination of herbs and spices, which infuse into the ingredients and create a delicious aroma that’s hard to resist.

Finally, the dipping sauces served with Lau Thai are simply amazing. From sweet to spicy and everything in between, there’s a dipping sauce for every taste preference.

Overall, Lau Thai is a fun, flavorful, and satisfying meal that’s perfect for sharing with loved ones. It’s no wonder it’s such a popular dish in Thailand and around the world!

In this easy Lau Thai recipe, we’re covering

• Origins of Lau Thai
• Other names for Lau Thai
• How to traditionally serve Lau Thai
• Tips and tricks for making the best plant-based Lau Thai 
• Equipment needed to make Lau Thai 
• Ingredients for making Lau Thai 
• How to make Thai Noodle soup
• Easy way to cook fluffy rice
• How to cook noodles for Lau Thai
• Great vegetables to add to Asian Noodle Soup
• Gluten free noodle options 
• FAQs 
• How to store noodle soup

Origins of Lau Thai

Lau Thai, also known as Thai Hot Pot, is a popular dish in Thailand. It is believed to originate from the northern part of Thailand, where the cooler climate makes hot pot a popular choice for warming up during chilly evenings. The dish typically consists of a simmering pot of broth that is cooked at the table and filled with an array of meats, seafood, vegetables, and noodles. It is typically served with a variety of dipping sauces and is a communal dish that is meant to be shared with family and friends. Today, Lau Thai can be found in many restaurants throughout Thailand and has become a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

Other names for Lau Thai

Lau Thai is primarily known as Thai Hot Pot in English. However, some people may refer to it as Thai Steamboat or Thai Suki.

How is Lau Thai traditionally served and eaten

You traditionally serve Lau Thai in a hot pot or a large pot and place it in the center of the table. The pot is filled with a flavorful broth, which is heated to a simmer. Then, a variety of meats (we’re using mushrooms as our vegan meat substitute in this recipe), seafood, vegetables, and noodles are added to the pot and cooked to your liking.

Typically, the meats are thinly sliced and the vegetables are cut into bite-sized pieces, which are then placed in small dishes around the pot. Each person then selects the ingredients they want to cook and adds them to the hot pot.

As the ingredients cook, they release their flavors and aromas into the broth, creating a comforting and delicious meal. When the ingredients are cooked, you scoop them out of the pot and serve with a variety of dipping sauces. You can customize the sauces to suit your preference.

Lau Thai is a communal dish that is meant to be shared, so it’s a great way to bond with family and friends while enjoying a delicious and satisfying meal.

Tips and Tricks for making the best vegan Lau Thai

We’re working with a simple ingredient list that features ingredients you can get at most gorcery stores or supermarkets. 

1. Use fresh and high-quality ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices. This will ensure that the flavors are vibrant and the dish tastes delicious.

2. Make your own curry paste from scratch. This will give you greater control over the flavors and ensure that the paste is vegan-friendly.

3. Use coconut milk or cream instead of traditional dairy milk or cream. This will give your Lau Thai a creamy and rich texture without the use of animal products.

4. Add plenty of vegetables to your Lau Thai. You can use a variety of vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, and broccoli. This will give the dish a healthy boost and add plenty of flavors.

5. Don’t be shy with the spices. Use plenty of chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass to add heat and depth of flavor to your Lau Thai.

6. Cook the noodles separately and add them to the sauce just before serving. This will ensure that the noodles don’t become too soft or mushy.

7. Adjust the seasoning to your taste. Taste the dish as you go and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add more salt, sugar, or lime juice to the sauce. You can also use hoisin sauce and kaffir lime leaves to add flavor depth to the soup base.

8. Garnish your Lau Thai with fresh herbs and toppings like cilantro, Thai basil, mung bean sprouts, scallions, or green onions, or peanuts. This will add an extra layer of texture and work as a flavour enhancer to the sweet and sour soup.

Extra tips to take your Lau Thai hot pot to the next level

9. Don’t overcook the vegetables. Overcooked vegetables can become mushy and lose their flavor. Cook the vegetables until they are just tender and still have a bit of crunch.

10. Use a wok or large skillet to cook the Lau Thai. A wok or large skillet will allow you to cook the ingredients quickly and evenly while also allowing space for stirring and tossing.

11. To make the dish more filling, you can add tofu, tempeh, or seitan to the recipe. These plant-based proteins will ensure that you are getting enough protein and will add a meaty texture to the dish.

12. Lastly, have fun with the recipe and experiment with different ingredients and flavors to make it your own. The best Lau Thai is one that suits your taste buds!

Equipment needed to make Lau Thai

To make Lau Thai, you will need the following equipment:

1. Large pot: A large pot is essential for making the broth and cooking the vegetables.

2. Cutting board: A cutting board is necessary for preparing vegetables and protein.

3. Sharp knife: You’ll need a sharp knife for chopping and slicing the ingredients into thin slices.

4. Ladle: You can use a ladle to serve the soup.

5. Wooden spoon: I like to use a wooden spoon to stir the soup while it’s cooking.

6. Strainer: You can use a fine-mesh strainer to remove any solids from the soup if needed.

7. Grater: If you are including ginger or lemongrass in your recipe, you may need a grater to grate them into small pieces.

8. Bowls and spoons: You’ll need bowls and spoons to serve the soup.

Additional equipment that may be useful but is not necessary includes a mortar and pestle for grinding spices or herbs and a blender for pureeing the broth if desired.

Here’s a vegan Lau Thai recipe that is both delicious and easy to make:

Easy Lau Thai recipe Ingredients:

• 1 can of coconut milk
• 1 cup of vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons of red curry paste, or tom yum paste, or mild chili paste
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 1 block of firm tofu, cubed or sliced 
• 2 baby bok choy, sliced – or other leafy vegetables
• 2 red bell peppers, sliced
• 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
• 1/1 cup snap peas
• 1/2 cup water spinach, optional
• 1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• Cooked rice or noodles, for serving

How to make Lau Thai Instructions:

1. Firstly, in a large pot, whisk together the coconut milk, vegetable broth, red curry paste, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.

2. Next, add the tofu and vegetables to the pot and stir until everything is well combined.

3. Now, let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the tofu is heated through.

4. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the chopped cilantro.

5. Serve the Lau Thai over a bed of cooked rice And enjoy.

How to cook rice for Lau Thai

Here’s how to cook rice for Lau Thai:

Delicious sticky rice or fluffy white rice are a vietnamese cuisine favorite side dish with Lau Thai soup. Here’s a simple way to make rice:

Lau Thai rice Ingredients:

• 1 cup of long-grain white rice
• 2 cups of water

How to make fluffy Thai Instructions:

1. Rinse the rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold running water until the water runs clear.

2. In a medium-sized pot, combine the rinsed rice and 2 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.

3. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Let the rice simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until all of the water has been absorbed.

4. Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for an additional 10 minutes. This will allow the rice to steam and become fluffy.

5. After 10 minutes, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.

6. Serve the cooked rice as a bed for the Lau Thai, or mix it in with the curry if you prefer. Enjoy!

Here’s how to cook noodles for Lau Thai:

Lau Thai is one of the best soups to serve with noodles! You can make the noodles and serve the delicious soup ladled on top, or you can add the noodles directly to the soup the last 5 minutes of cooking and let them cook for the easiest meal. 

Lau Thai Noodle Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of thin, flat rice noodles
• 8 cups of water

How to make Lau Thai with noodles Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat.

2. Once the water is boiling, add the rice noodles to the pot. Stir the noodles with chopsticks or a fork to avoid clumping.

3. Now, let the noodles cook for 4-5 minutes, or until they are al dente (cooked but still slightly firm to the bite).

4. Once the noodles are cooked, drain them in a colander and rinse them under cold running water to stop the cooking process.

5. If you are not going to use the noodles right away, toss them with a bit of oil to prevent them from sticking together.

6. You can serve the cooked noodles as a bed for the Lau Thai, or mixed in with the curry. Enjoy your delicious Lau Thai!

Great vegetables to add to Lau Thai

You can use many vegetables to give your Lau Thai more flavor and texture. Generally, any vegetables that work great in stir fry will be good in Lau Thai. The best part is, you can change out your veggies and serve it in different ways each time you make it. It’s a versatile Thai cooking dish you can switch up and have fun with.  

Here are some great options:

• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Snow peas
• Broccoli
• Bok choy or baby Bok Choy
• Bean sprouts
• sliced onions
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Spring onion
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Lemongrass

These vegetables can be added to the recipe according to your taste and preference. They will not only add flavor, but also nutrition, color, and texture to the dish.

Best gluten free noodle options

There are many great gluten-free noodle options available, including:

1. Rice noodles: Rice noodles are a popular gluten-free option that can be used in many Asian dishes. They are made from rice flour and come in different shapes and sizes, including vermicelli, flat noodles, and thick noodles.

2. Quinoa noodles: Quinoa noodles are made from quinoa flour and are a good option for people with gluten intolerance. They are high in protein and fiber and have a slightly nutty flavor.

3. Buckwheat noodles: Buckwheat noodles are also known as soba noodles and are a popular Japanese dish. Despite their name, they are gluten-free and are made from buckwheat flour.

4. Zucchini noodles: Zucchini noodles, also known as zoodles, are a great gluten-free alternative to traditional noodles. They are made by spiralizing zucchini into thin, noodle-like strands.

5. Sweet potato noodles: Sweet potato noodles are made from sweet potato starch and have a slightly sweet flavor. They are often used in Korean cuisine and are a good source of fiber and vitamins.

6. Bean thread noodles: Bean thread noodles, also known as cellophane noodles or glass noodles, are made from mung bean starch and are transparent and glassy in texture. They are a common ingredient in many Southeast Asian dishes and can be used in soups, stir-fries, and salads.

7. Chickpea noodles: Chickpea noodles are made from chickpea flour and are a great gluten-free option for those who need a high protein, low carb diet. They have a nutty flavor and can be used in a variety of dishes.

Extra Gluten-free noodle options

8. Corn noodles: Corn noodles are made from corn flour and are a common ingredient in Mexican cuisine. They can be used in soups, salads, and stir-fries and have a slightly sweet flavor.

Overall, there are many great gluten-free noodle options available that can be used in a variety of dishes, so you can still enjoy your favorite meals without sacrificing taste or texture.

Are you looking for more delicious noodle recipes and soups? You might like some of these:

• Easy Ramen Noodles
• Savory Tahini Noodles
• Spaghetti Noodles with Chickpeas
• Hungarian Goulash (vegan)

FAQs – frequently asked questions and answers about Lau Thai:

Storing Lau Thai