Thai Tom Yum Soup (Hot and Sour Soup)



Ingredients for Thai Tom Yum 4 cups water 1 stalk of lemon grass (cut into 4" long pieces and bruised slightly to release flavor) 3-4 kaffir lime leaves (torn into small 1/2"pieces) 1 package of white button mushrooms (sliced in half) 3-4 whole Thai chili peppers or sarranno chili peppers 1 1/2 lbs peeled shrimp (fresh or frozen. Thaw them first if frozen. Devein them if fresh) 3-4 tbsp fish sauce 2 tablespoons of "nam prik pow" or chili paste in soya bean oil 2 large limes 1/2 cup of celantro leaves Preparation for Thai Tom Yum Boil water in a deep pot Add cut lemon grass , kaffir lime leaves , sliced mushrooms and Thai or sarrano chili peppers Add shrimp When shrimp turns pink turn off heat Season with fish sauce (to suit your taste) Add nam prik pow or chili paste in soya bean oil squeeze in 2 large limes add ½ cup of cilantro leaves remove lemon grass stalks and kaffir lime leaves (they are too tough to eat) serve hot