Hot and sour soup with shrimp (tom yum goong)

    

     Tom Yum Goong hot and sour soup is without any doubt the best known Thai recipe, not just in Thailand but around the World, and our authentic Thai recipe for Tom Yum Goong will show you why it is so rightly famous. Tom Yum Goong typifies Thai cuisine with its use of fresh herbs and spices and this Thai recipe has all the ingredients that give Tom Yum Goong its exciting mixture of hot, sweet, sour and salty flavours for which it is so renowned. In Thailand, prawns are used in the recipe but shrimps can be substituted. The Prawns may have their shells removed if preferred but are always served with their tails still attached. One point to note is that there are some items used to give flavour like the Lemongrass and Galangal and should not be eaten. These items though are never removed from the soup before serving. There are many recipes available for Tom Yum Goong, some adding milk to tone down the spiciness but ours is a recipe for the purist. The secret of success is to taste, taste and taste again to get the flavour exactly how you like it.

Ingredients

     - 5 Medium sized fresh or frozen Prawns, skins intact.

     - 2 Stalks Lemongrass, cut into pieces about 1? and lightly crushed

     - 6 Kaffir Lime Leaves

     - 2 Tbsp Galangal, sliced thinly

     - 1/2 Cup Fresh Shitake Mushrooms, whole or sliced if large.

     - 2 Tbsp Shallots, skins removed and thinly sliced

     - 2 Tsp Sugar

     - 1+1/2 Tsp Fish Sauce

     - 3-5 Small Red Thai Chili Peppers, lightly pounded ( if you do not like a very spicy taste then remove seeds before pounding)

     - 2 Cups Chicken Stock

     - 2 Sprigs Fresh Green Peppercorns

     - 1 Tbsp Lime Juice

     - 1 Tbsp Coriander Roots, chopped

     - 2 Tsp Roasted Chili Paste ( Nam Prik Pow)

Method

     1. Bring the Stock to the boil in a large pan.

     2. Add the Mushrooms, Lemongrass, Galangal, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Shallots, Green Peppercorns and Coriander root and boil for about 5 minutes

     3. Add the Prawns and cook for about 2-3 minutes (1 minute if shells are removed) or until pink.

     4. Remove pan from the heat

     5. Add roasted Chili Paste, Fish Sauce, Chili Peppers, Lime Juice and Sugar, adjusting to taste.

     6. Serve hot and enjoy.