Tom Yam Soup With Chicken Or Prawns Large Shrimp Recipes

TOM YUM SOUP WITH SHRIMP | TOM YUM GOONG

Steps:

• Roughly chop the Long fresh red (mild) chilli, the shallots, and the galangal. Add to a grinder jar, and without adding water, grind to a paste - (as smooth as possible).
• Heat oil in a pot and add the freshly made spice paste. Stir till it gets, nice and aromatic.
• Also, add the dried red chilli paste and stir this in. Stir till the oil somewhat separates.
• Now add the cleaned prawns. Coat the pawns with the paste and cook them for just about a minute till slightly seared.
• Pour in the water(3 1/2 cups) and bring this to a boil.
• Meanwhile, gently bruise the white portion of lemongrass stalks, by pounding on them ( without breaking up the stalks). Also remove the midvein section of the kaffir lime, thereby tearing each leaf into 2 pieces. This is to help release more aromatics and flavour from the lemongrass and Kaffir lime leaves.
• Once the soup has come to a boil, add the lemongrass stalks and kaffir lime leaves.
• Add tamarind solution (3 tsp) or (to taste) if using concentrated paste.
• Also add salt or fish sauce, whichever you are using, to taste. Although Thai fish sauce is used traditionally, not everyone likes the pungent smell of the fish sauce in their soup.
• Add light brown sugar (1/2 tsp) to balance the overall taste.
• Simmer the soup on a medium flame for 8-10 minutes, till the prawns are just cooked. Once simmered a while, add the whole green and red (/ small) chillies. Taste once more and add salt if needed.
• At the very end, add lime juice. Taste as you go. Add the juice of half the lime and add the rest if needed.
• Delicious, simple and satisfying Tom Yum Soup is ready. After the soup has rested for some time, you can remove the lemongrass stalks, kaffir lime leaves, and whole green and red chillies. This is so that none of these overpowers the soup, by being left in the soup too long.
• Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro(coriander) and serve along with your meal. Tom yum soup is often served alongside steamed white rice. It is even poured over rice at times, instead of adding curry.

TOM YAM SOUP WITH CHICKEN OR PRAWNS (LARGE SHRIMP)

Steps:

• Using only the white part of the lemongrass (discard the rest), pound to release the flavor and cut into 2 inch segments.
• Put lemongrass, fish sauce, ginger root and stock into a pot and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for another 15 minutes.
• Uncover the pot and add the Kaffir lime leaves, chilies, onion, sugar and chicken pieces (if using prawns, add during last two minutes of cooking).
• Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then add Nam Prik Pao and mushrooms. Simmer for yet another 2 minutes. Now add the green onions and let it simmer for 30 seconds.
• Turn off the heat, add lime juice and garnish with coriander leaves. Test for saltiness and sourness. If required, adjust with more fish sauce (salt) and lemon juice (sour).
• If you can't find Kaffir Lime leaves, lime zest is the closest thing (use 1-2 tsp).

THAI PRAWNS AND SQUID HOT SOUP (TOM YUM KUNG LAE PIA MUK)

Steps:

• Clean the squid, cut off and chop the tentacles, then cut the body into rings.
• Put the stock, lime leaves and lemon grass in a pan, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the prawns (shrimp), squid and nam pla. Cook until the prawns have turned pink, then add the chilies.
• Pour the soup into 4 warmed individual bowls. Mix together the garlic and lime or lemon juice to taste, then stir into the soup. Sprinkle with coriander. Serve hot. Serves 4.
• NOTE: Nam pla is Thailand fish sauce.
• Lemon grass, fresh lemon grass is available from Asian stores. The lower third of the stalk, the bulb like portion, is the part to use when a recipe specifies 'chopped or sliced lemon grass'. Alternatively, the whole stalk may be bruised and added during cooking, but then it should be removed before serving. Dried lemon grass is a good substitute:--Soak in hot water for about 2 hours before using then remove from the dish before serving. 1 Tablespoon dried lemon grass is roughly equivalent to 1 stalk fresh. Powdered lemon grass is also available.
• Lime leaves, fresh lime leaves are preferred, but virtually unobtainable in the West. Dried lime leaves are available from Asian stores.
• Asian Cooking.