Thai cuisine
Tom yum (Thai: ต้มยำ)
Tom yum is a type of hot and sour Thai soup, usually cooked with shrimp (prawn). Tom yum has its origin in Thailand.
The words "tom yam" are derived from two Thai words. Tom refers to the boiling process, while yam refers to a Thai spicy and sour salad. Tom yum is characterised by its distinct hot and sour flavours, with fragrant spices and herbs generously used in the broth. The soup is also made with fresh ingredients such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce, and crushed red chili peppers.
Commercial tom yum paste is made by crushing all the herb ingredients and stir frying in oil. Then, seasoning and other preservative ingredients are added. The paste is bottled or packaged and sold around the world. Tom yum flavored with the paste may have different characteristics from that made with fresh herb ingredients. The soup often includes meats such as chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp.
Ingredients
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2 liters of water
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4 stalks of lemongrass
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1 inch chunk of galangal
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10 Thai chilies
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5 cloves of garlic
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½ kilo shrimp
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300 grams of oyster mushrooms
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2 roma tomatoes
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2 white onions (medium sized)
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2 teaspoons of sugar
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8 - 12 tablespoons of fish sauce (depending on your taste)
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8 - 12 tablespoons of lime juice (10 - 15 limes)
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Handful of cilantro