Thai soup Tom Yum

09. 09. 2022

Tom yum is characterised by its distinct hot and sour flavours, with fragrant spices and herbs generously used in the broth. Immediately after the first tasting you will be stunned by the heady taste of lemon grass, garlic, lime, coconut milk and chili in combination with chicken flavor with shrimps. If you like spicy, we recommend fresh red chili. Once you have tasted this special Thai soup, it will probably be forever on the list of favorite dishes of your entire family.

Ingredients

12 to 14 medium shrimp
6 cups chicken stock
1 stalk lemongrass (lower 1/3, finely minced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
3 tablespoons onion (minced)
6 teaspoons galangal (or ginger)
3 leaves kaffir lime (or bay leaves)
1 teaspoon lime juice (or lemon juice)
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 carrot (thickly sliced)
1 to 2 cups shiitake mushrooms
1 small zucchini (sliced into half-moons)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
1/4 to 1/3 can coconut milk (adding more or less to taste)
1 teaspoon chili oil
1/3 cup fresh coriander
Optional: brown sugar (to taste)
Optional: crushed chili pepper flakes (to taste)

Steps to Make It

1/ Gather the ingredients.

2/ Pour stock into a deep cooking pot and switch heat to medium-high. Add prepared lemongrass, including upper sections of the stalk you didn't mince. Boil hard 5 to 6 minutes to soften.

3/ Add garlic, onion, galangal or ginger, lime leaves (or bay leaves), lime or lemon juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, and carrots. Reduce heat slightly, cover, and continue lightly boiling 5 minutes. 

Add mushrooms and zucchini, and continue lightly boiling another 5 minut

4/ Add shrimp and cherry tomatoes. Cook 3 minutes, or until shrimp are pink and plump.

5/ Turn down the heat to low and add 1/4 can coconut milk plus more fish sauce to taste. This is where the soup comes to its ​perfection. Taste-test for the most flavorful you can make it, without tilting over into too-salty, adding more fish sauce until you're happy with the flavor.

6/ Serve with fresh coriander sprinkled over, and enjoy!

If you do not dare to cook all the way, you can take advantage of the Tom Yum pastes that will make your cooking much easier.