Thailand is home to many man-made and natural luxuries. From hotels to beaches and traditional centres, there are many things for locals and visitors to enjoy. But while enjoying the hotels and the like, one aspect that many need to relish is the local cuisine.

Tom Yum is a famous Thai soup known for its bold flavour—spicy, sour, and fragrant all at once. It’s made using a variety of fresh herbs and spices that make it distinctly Thai. Here’s a recipe to guide you through preparing this delicious and aromatic dish.

 

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup of mushrooms (straw mushrooms or white mushrooms)

10-12 medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined

1-2 tablespoons of fish sauce (adjust to taste)

1 tablespoon lime juice (adjust to taste)

1-2 teaspoons of Thai chilli paste (Nam Prik Pao)

2 teaspoons sugar

Fresh cilantro for garnish

 

For Broth

 

4 cups water or chicken broth

2 stalks of lemongrass (cut into 1-inch pieces and smashed)

4-5 kaffir lime leaves (torn)

4-5 slices of galangal

4-5 Thai chillies (crushed, adjust for spiciness)

 

Directions

 

Prepare The Broth

 

  • Boil the water or chicken broth in a pot.
  • Add smashed lemongrass, torn kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and Thai chillies.
  • Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes to infuse the flavours.

 

Add The Main Ingredients

 

  • Add mushrooms to the broth and cook for a few minutes.
  • Add the shrimp, allowing them to cook until they turn pink, about 2-3 minutes.

 

Season The Soup

  • Stir in the fish sauce, Thai chilli paste, and sugar.
  • Adjust the seasoning to your preference, balancing salty, sour, and spicy.

 

Finish With Lime And Garnish

 

  • Remove from heat and add lime juice.
  • Taste and adjust if needed (more fish sauce for saltiness, more lime juice for sourness).
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

 

Additional Tip

 

  • You can also add other proteins like chicken, squid, or tofu to the soup for variation.
  • Serve Tom Yum hot with steamed jasmine rice, or enjoy it on its own for a lighter, flavourful meal.

 

 

The Tom Yum recipe is a flavourful representation of Thai cuisine that highlights fresh herbs and spices. It is quite expandable, so you can adjust the flavours to suit your preference.

 

Johnson Chukwueke
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