After recently and repeatedly trying the coconut soup at Vientiane Lao-Thai cafe in West Philly, I determined I needed to try my hand in making something similar at home lest the restaurant run out of it on my accord. After picking up a can of light coconut milk from Mariposa Food Co-Op and fistfuls of local kale and 1/2 pound crimini and portobello mushrooms at the Clark Park Farmers’ market, I set to fashioning my version of veggie-filled soup.

The just-blanched crunch of the kale, which I tossed in at the last moment, was delicious paired with the chickpea miso-infused mushrooms, garlic and onions. Paprika is optional, but I loved how it changed the tint of the soup and added smoky flavor notes. This soup honestly does stray from the Vientiane version, and is undoubtedly missing “key” ingredients, but I still think it’s good enough to stand on its…