Tom Yum (Thailand)

 

Tom Yum is a famous Thai soup acknowledged for its spicy, sour, and fragrant flavors. It is a staple in Thai cuisine and is often enjoyed as an appetizer or as a main course with steamed rice. The soup is typically made with a combination of ingredients such as shrimp, chicken, or tofu, and infused with the vibrant flavors of lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and chili peppers.  Here's a classic recipe for Tom Yum soup:

Ingredients:

- four cups of chook or vegetable broth- 2 stalks of lemongrass, bruised and reduce into 2-inch pieces- 4 slices of galangal (substitute with ginger if unavailable)

- 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces

- 2-3 Thai bird's eye chilies, sliced (adjust according to your spice preference)

- 200 grams of shrimp, peeled and deveined (or use chicken or tofu)

- 200 grams of mushrooms, sliced (such as straw mushrooms or button mushrooms)

- 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges

- 2 tablespoons of fish sauce

- 2 tablespoons of lime juice

- 1 tablespoon of sugar

- Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a pot, bring the chicken or vegetable broth to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

2. Add the lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai bird's eye chilies to the pot. Allow the flavors to infuse for about 5 minutes.

3. Add the shrimp (or chicken/tofu) and mushrooms to the pot and cook until the shrimp turns pink and cooked through, or the chicken/tofu is tender.

4. Add the tomatoes to the pot and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

5. Season the soup with fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar. Adjust the flavors according to your taste by adding more fish sauce for saltiness, lime juice for sourness, or sugar for sweetness.

6. Remove the pot from heat and ladle the soup into serving bowls. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.

7. Serve hot with steamed rice or enjoy as a standalone soup.

Note: Tom Yum soup is known for its spiciness, but you can adjust the heat level by adding more or fewer chili peppers. You can also customize the ingredients by adding other vegetables like baby corn or bok choy.

Enjoy the vibrant flavors of this delicious Thai soup!