Tom Yum Soup

Tom yum soup is one of the most popular and iconic dishes of Thai cuisine. It’s a hot and sour soup that features shrimp, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs in a tangy broth. It’s easy to make at home with simple ingredients and can be customized to your taste. You can also choose between a clear or a creamy version of the soup, depending on your preference.

Ingredients

• 4 cups chicken stock or water
• 2 stalks lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces and smashed
• 4 slices galangal, peeled and smashed
• 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
• 10 Thai bird’s eye chilies, smashed
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 8 ounces shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 8 ounces straw mushrooms, halved
• 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, chopped

Instructions

1. In a large pot over high heat, bring the stock or water to a boil. Add the lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and chilies and simmer for about 10 minutes to infuse the broth with their flavors.
2. Add the fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more fish sauce for saltiness, more lime juice for sourness, more sugar for sweetness, or more chilies for spiciness.
3. Add the shrimp and mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.
4. Add the tomatoes and cilantro and turn off the heat. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy hot with steamed rice or by itself.

Variation: Creamy Tom Yum Soup

If you prefer a creamy version of tom yum soup, you can add some evaporated milk and roasted chili paste to the broth. These ingredients will give the soup a richer texture and a deeper color.

To make creamy tom yum soup, follow these steps:

1. After adding the shrimp and mushrooms to the broth, reduce the heat to low.
2. Stir in 1/4 cup of evaporated milk and 2 tablespoons of roasted chili paste (nam prik pao). You can find these ingredients at Asian grocery stores or online.
3. Simmer for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup is well combined.
4. Add the tomatoes and cilantro and turn off the heat. Serve as above.