Clear Soup with Soft Tofu
A comforting and mild clear broth made with soft egg tofu and fresh garden vegetables.
Serves: 3 · Prep: 15 min · Cook: 10 min · Total: 25 min · Level: Easy
The Story Behind the Dish
This is the soup you make when someone is unwell - or when the rest of the meal is rich and you want something to sit alongside it quietly. The broth is clear: no coconut, no dried spice, no heat. Glass noodles absorb the liquid gently; egg tofu, silkier and richer than regular firm tofu, adds protein without weight.
Chicken meatballs bring body to the bowl, and a generous hand with black pepper - far more than you might expect - gives the soup its warmth and its reputation as a remedy. Coriander goes in fresh at the end. The whole thing comes together in under fifteen minutes and tastes like it took much longer. Taught at Thai Akha Kitchen cooking classes in Chiang Mai.
Key Ingredients
- Chinese Cabbage
- Egg Tofu
- Chicken
- Glass Noodle
- Carrot
Base Flavors
- Soy Sauce
- Garlic
- Drinking Water
- Black Peppercorn
- Coriander
- Green Onion
Recipe Directions
- Soak the glass noodles in warm water until soft.
- Mix the minced chicken with garlic, pepper, and chopped glass noodles.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil.
- Spoon round chicken meatballs into the boiling water.
- Add the sliced egg tofu, carrot, and cabbage and simmer until cooked.
- Garnish the clear soup with cilantro and serve.
What people ask the most
What is Clear Soup with Soft Tofu?
A mild Thai comfort soup of light chicken broth, soft egg tofu, glass noodles, chicken meatballs, and black pepper. Think of it as Thailand's chicken noodle soup: soothing, easy to digest, and a beloved home staple. See our recipe collection.
What is egg tofu and how is it different from regular tofu?
Egg tofu blends soy milk and eggs for a silkier texture than firm tofu, with a pale-yellow color. Soft yet rich, it soaks up the broth without breaking apart. Find it tube-packaged in most Asian supermarkets, or cook it in our Morning Class.
Can I make this soup at a Thai Akha Kitchen class?
Yes. It is part of our Morning Class with Market Tour, where you pick the ingredients fresh before cooking. It is one of the gentler, non-spicy dishes on the menu, perfect for milder palates.
Is this clear soup low-calorie and suitable for special diets?
Yes. The broth is light, egg tofu adds protein without fat, and glass noodles are naturally gluten-free. For a vegetarian version, swap the meatballs for extra tofu and vegetable stock. See our allergy-safe guide.
What are the health benefits of this clear broth soup?
Egg tofu gives highly digestible protein, glass noodles are gluten-free and low-GI, and the generous black pepper aids nutrient absorption and eases inflammation. The light broth hydrates gently, which is why Thai families serve it to anyone unwell. More in our recipes.
Why is black pepper used so prominently in this Thai soup?
Black pepper is one of Southeast Asia's oldest medicinal spices, used in Thai cooking long before chili arrived. Here it gives the main heat: gentle, deep, and warming. Explore this tradition in our food-as-medicine guide.
What role do clear broths like this play in Thai home cooking and healing traditions?
In Thai homes a clear broth is the reset button, eaten during illness, after rich meals, or on hot days. It stays deliberately plain: meatballs for protein, tofu for softness, noodles for substance, pepper to soothe. This idea of eating lightly to restore echoes wider Thai cuisine and our own food-as-medicine approach.
What is the best cooking class in Chiang Mai to learn mild Thai comfort cooking?
Not every visitor to Chiang Mai wants fire and heat; many come to learn dishes they can cook at home. This soup teaches broth-building that makes Tom Kha and Tom Yum far easier. Our Morning Class is rated among Chiang Mai's best on TripAdvisor.