Tom Yum Kung 
(Thai hot and sour shrimp soup)

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Bowl of tom yum kung
Image by Wikipedia: Takeaway

Tom yum, or tom yam, is the simple and popular Thai hot and sour soup, familiar to many from Thai restaurant menus. It is also a staple meal in most Thai homes. This version contains shrimp (kung), but you can also try one of the other versions listed in the variations below.

It is sometimes spelled tom yum koong or tom yum goong.

Tom Yum Kung
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Tom Yum Kung

Course: Soups and StewsCuisine: Thailand
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Tom yum kung is the simple and popular Thai hot and sour soup, familiar to many from Thai restaurant menus.

Ingredients

  • Water or stock — 6 cups

  • Fish sauce — 1 or 2 tablespoons

  • Makrut lime leaves — 4

  • Lemongrass, white part of stalk only, crushed –1 stalk

  • Galangal (optional), cut into thin rounds — 2 pieces

  • Garlic, crushed — 2 cloves

  • Salt and pepper — to taste

  • Shrimp, peeled and deveined — 1 1/2 pounds

  • Scallions, chopped — 1/2 bunch

  • Straw mushrooms (optional) — 1 cup

  • Limes, juice only — 2

  • Cilantro, chopped — 1/2 bunch

  • Thai chile peppers, sliced into rounds — 2 or 3

Directions

  • Bring the water or stock, fish sauce, lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, salt and pepper to a boil in a large pot over medium flame. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside for another 10 minutes to steep. Strain through a fine-meshed sieve and discard solids.
  • Return the stock to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the shrimp, scallions and mushrooms and continue to simmer over medium-low heat until shrimp is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Stir in the lime juice, cilantro and chilies, adjust seasoning and serve.

Tom Yum Kung Notes and Variations

  • Tom kha kung: Substitute coconut milk for half or all the water or stock.
  • Tom yum gai: Substitute thinly sliced chicken for the shrimp.
  • Tom yum hed: A vegetarian variation. Eliminate the shrimp and double the amount of mushrooms.
  • Add the shrimp shells from peeling the shrimp to the simmering stock for extra flavor.
  • Straw mushrooms are usually found canned. You can substitute thinly sliced button mushrooms if you like, or omit the mushrooms altogether.
  • Sliced bamboo shoots can be added if you like.
  • If makrut lime leaves are unavailable, zest the limes before juicing them and use the zest instead.

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