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Tom Yum Soup

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byterecipes
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Tom Yum Soup is a classic Thai dish known for its hot and sour flavors, featuring shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, and fragrant herbs like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal. This soup is a perfect blend of spicy, sour, salty, and sweet, making it a delightful and refreshing meal. It’s relatively easy to make and requires only a few special ingredients and utensils.

Appliances and Special Utensils

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (450g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 cups (1 liter) chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 stalk lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces and smashed
  • 3-4 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces
  • 1-inch piece of galangal, sliced
  • 2-3 Thai chilies, crushed
  • 1 cup mushrooms, halved or quartered
  • 1 medium tomato, cut into wedges
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 2-3 tbsp fish sauce (to taste)
  • 2-3 tbsp lime juice (to taste)
  • 1 tsp sugar (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • 2-3 tbsp Thai chili paste (Nam Prik Pao, optional, for extra flavor)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Broth: In a large pot, bring the chicken or vegetable broth to a boil. Add the smashed lemongrass, torn kaffir lime leaves, sliced galangal, and crushed Thai chilies. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes to infuse the flavors.

  2. Add Vegetables: Add the mushrooms, tomato wedges, and sliced onion to the pot. Continue to simmer for another 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

  3. Cook Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the pot and cook until they turn pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes.

  4. Season Soup: Stir in the fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar (if using). Adjust the seasoning to taste, balancing the salty, sour, and sweet flavors. If using Thai chili paste, add it at this stage and stir well.

  5. Strain (Optional): If you prefer a clear broth, you can strain out the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal before serving.

  6. Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve hot.

Enjoy your authentic, homemade Tom Yum Soup, bursting with vibrant Thai flavors!