Cuisine : Tom Yum Goong - how to prepare this popular Thai soup

 

Tom Yum Goong is a flavorful and aromatic Thai soup known for its spicy and sour taste, typically made with shrimp (goong). Here's a detailed guide on how to prepare it:

Ingredients:

- 10-12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (with heads and tails intact for flavor)

- 4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth

- 2 stalks of lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces and lightly smashed

- 3-4 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces

- 3-4 slices of galangal (Thai ginger)

- 3-4 Thai bird's eye chilies, bruised (adjust to taste)

- 1 small onion, thinly sliced

- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

- 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (typically straw mushrooms or any mushrooms of your choice)

- 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges

- 2 tablespoons of fish sauce

- 2 tablespoons of lime juice

- 1 tablespoon of sugar (optional)

- Handful of cilantro leaves for garnish

Instructions:

1. **Prepare the broth**: In a large pot, bring the chicken or vegetable broth to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.

2. **Add aromatics**: Add lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, Thai bird's eye chilies, sliced onion, and minced garlic to the pot. Let them simmer for 5-10 minutes to infuse the broth with their flavors.

3. **Add shrimp**: Once the broth is fragrant, add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the pot. Let them cook until they turn pink and opaque, which should take about 2-3 minutes.

4. **Add mushrooms and tomatoes**: Add the sliced mushrooms and tomato wedges to the pot. Let them cook for another 2-3 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and the tomatoes are slightly softened.

5. **Season the soup**: Stir in fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar (if using). Adjust the seasoning to your taste preferences by adding more fish sauce for saltiness, lime juice for acidity, or sugar to balance the flavors.

6. **Check the seasoning**: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary. It should have a perfect balance of spicy, sour, salty, and sweet flavors.

7. **Serve**: Ladle the hot Tom Yum soup into serving bowls, garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, and serve immediately. Enjoy your delicious and comforting Tom Yum Goong!

Feel free to adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or fewer Thai bird's eye chilies, and customize the ingredients based on your preferences. Enjoy your cooking!