Description
Tom yum soup delights palates with its bold Thai flavors, dancing between fiery chili heat and tangy lime zest. Fragrant lemongrass and fresh seafood create a complex broth that invites you to savor each spoonful of this classic Southeast Asian comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Seafood:
- 200 grams (7 ounces) shrimp, peeled and deveined
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 stalks lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces and smashed
- 3 slices galangal
- 1 small tomato, quartered
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 23 Thai bird chilies, crushed
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 3 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Optional: 1/2 cup coconut milk for a creamy version
Instructions
- Initiate the flavor base by bringing chicken broth and water to a rolling boil in a spacious cooking vessel over medium heat.
- Introduce aromatic ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and crushed Thai bird chilies into the simmering liquid, reducing heat to allow gentle extraction of complex herbal essences for approximately 10 minutes.
- Carefully incorporate shrimp, sliced mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, and onion fragments into the fragrant broth, allowing ingredients to cook and meld together until shrimp transform to a vibrant pink and vegetables soften slightly.
- Enhance the soup’s depth by introducing fish sauce, fresh lime juice, and a touch of sugar, meticulously tasting and calibrating the flavor profile to achieve a harmonious balance between spicy, tangy, salty, and subtly sweet notes.
- For a luxurious variation, gently swirl coconut milk into the simmering mixture, warming it through without disrupting the delicate flavor composition.
- Terminate cooking process by removing pot from heat, strategically discarding robust herb stems and leaves that have contributed their essence.
- Transfer the aromatic soup into serving vessels, adorning each portion with delicate sprigs of fresh cilantro for a final flourish of color and herbal brightness.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting the number of Thai bird chilies, catering to different spice tolerances without losing authentic flavor.
- Swap protein options easily by using chicken, tofu, or mixed seafood instead of shrimp for versatile meal adaptations.
- Select fresh, high-quality ingredients like plump shrimp and crisp mushrooms to elevate the soup’s vibrant taste and authentic Thai profile.
- Create a vegetarian version by replacing chicken broth with vegetable stock and eliminating fish sauce, ensuring bold flavor through extra herbs and spices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg