Tom Yam Kung

Written by Thai Recipe   

Wednesday, 21 February 2007 18:46

Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup

A subtle blend of hot and sour with citrus overtones, tom yam goong is the most famous of all Thai soups. Each region has its own particular variation of the recipe.

Recipe:

8 oz (250 g) shrimp/prawns, shelled and deveined, with shellsreserved

3 cups (24 fl oz/750 ml) water

2 garlic cloves (kratiem), minced

5 kaffir lime leaves (bai ma-good)

3 thin slices fresh or dried galangal (kha)

1/4 cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) fish sauce (nam pla)

2 stalks lemon grass/citronella (ta-krai), lower 1/3 portiononly, cut into 1-in (2.5-cm) lengths

2 shallots, sliced

1/2 cup sliced straw mushrooms

5 green Thai chili peppers (prik khee noo), optional

1/4 cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) lime juice

1 teaspoon black chili paste (nam prik pow)

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro/coriander leaves (bai pak chee)

 How to cook:

1. Rinse the prawn shells and place them in a large pot with the water. Heat to boiling, strain the broth and discard the shells.

2. Add the garlic, lime leaves, galangal, fish sauce, lemon grass and shallots to the stock, then the mushrooms and chili peppers, if using. Cook gently for 2 minutes.

3. Add the shrimp to the soup, and reheat to boiling. When the shrimp are cooked, place the lime juice and black chili paste in a serving bowl. Pour the soup into the bowl, stir, garnish with the cilantro leaves, and serve.

SERVES 4

Thailand’s food needs little introduction. From San Francisco to Sukhothai, its profusion of exotic flavours and fragrances make it among the most coveted of international cuisines. As a walk through Bangkok forcefully reminds, these flavours and fragrances are seemingly inexhaustible. However, whether it be juicy pieces of grilled pork on a stick or a fiery bowl of ‘Tom Yum’ soup, we all have to start somewhere. And what better place than our carefully selected Top 10 of Thai Food, which spans everything from staple backpacker favourites to Thai classics. Once you’ve tried them all, please vote for the one that really thrilled your taste buds...