Recipe - Tom Yum Soup

Tom Yum Soup gives you a taste of spiciness and sourness at the same time. With a blend of the freshest Thai ingredients from the aromatic smell of lemongrass to the fiery spiciness of thai red chilli, it is possibly the most famous soup in the world. It is always the most popular appetizer in Thai restaurants. You may not know that it is very easy to make. Why not have a go?

Tom Yum Soup Recipe

• 6 large prawns with shell
• 1 lime
• 3 stalks of lemongrass
• 5 kaffir lime leaves
• 5 Thai red chillies
• 5 straw mushrooms
• 6 cherry tomatoes
• 80g of galangal (Thai ginger)
• Bunch of coriander
• 3tbsp of fish sauce
• 50ml of coconut milk (optional)
• 2tbsp of Nam Prik Pow (Thai chilli paste)
• 5 cups of water or chicken broth

Ingredient preparation

• Cut the cherry tomatoes into half
• Think slices on the straw mushrooms and galangal
• Remove the top part and the root of the lemongrass as well as the outer layer
• Use the back of the knife to knock the root part for few times and then slice it
• Remove the stem of the red chillies and poke the chillies with a toothpick to release the spiciness
• Tear the lime leaves into half
• Finely chop the coriander
• Take out the head and the vein of the prawns but keep the heads

Stock:

• Add the prawn heads into the water or chicken broth and boil with medium heat for 8 minutes
• After 8 minutes, remove the prawn heads from the stock but do not bin them
• Skim out the foam if there is any
• Turn the heat to medium-low and add the chillies, galangal, lemon grass and mushroom into the stock and cook for 10 minutes
• After 10 minutes, season the soup with 3tbsp of fish sauce and 2tbsp of Nam Prik Pow (Thai chilli paste)
• Taste the soup, it should be slightly salty and spicy at this stage. The taste will be stronger as it cooks
• Add the lime leaves and boil for 1 minute
• Put the prawns in and cook for a minute or two
• Add 60ml of coconut milk (optional)
• Give a final taste. Turn off the heat if you are satisfied with it.
• Add the lime juice to give the soup a taste of sourness
• Add the cherry tomatoes and chopped coriander and serve