Spicy Tom Yum Soup
Experience the vibrant, aromatic explosion of Thailand's most famous hot and sour soup, bursting with lemongrass, galangal, and spicy chili.
Ingredients
- •4 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock (960ml)
- •3 stalks fresh lemongrass, tender parts only, sliced into 1-inch pieces and bruised
- •10 slices fresh galangal or ginger
- •5 kaffir lime leaves, torn in half with stems removed
- •3-4 Thai bird eye chilies, bruised and left whole
- •8 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (225g)
- •1 cup fresh straw mushrooms or button mushrooms, quartered (100g)
- •2 tablespoons Thai chili paste (nam prik pao)
- •3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- •3 tablespoons fish sauce
- •1/2 cup evaporated milk or coconut milk (optional for creaminess) (120ml)
- •1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Pour the chicken stock into a medium pot and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
- 2
Add the bruised lemongrass, galangal slices, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai bird eye chilies to the boiling stock, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes to release the aromatic flavors.
- 3
Add the mushrooms to the pot and cook for about 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
- 4
Stir in the Thai chili paste, fish sauce, and shrimp, cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
- 5
Turn off the heat completely before adding the fresh lime juice and evaporated or coconut milk, ensuring a vibrant and fresh citrus flavor.
- 6
Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish generously with fresh cilantro, and serve hot.
💡 Chef tips
- Do not boil the soup after adding the lime juice, as boiling can make the citrus taste bitter.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer Thai bird eye chilies and nam prik pao according to your preference.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, though it is best enjoyed fresh.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished soup should look vibrant with floating herbs and pink shrimp, smell intensely fragrant with citrus and chili, and taste a perfectly balanced combination of hot, sour, salty, and savory flavors.