Tom Yum Thai Spicy Soup (Printer-Friendly)

Aromatic Thai soup with lemongrass, lime, and chiles. Bold, balanced flavors in 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Broth Base

01 - 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
02 - 2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and smashed
03 - 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
04 - 3 slices galangal or ginger
05 - 2 Thai bird's eye chiles, sliced

→ Vegetables and Aromatics

06 - 7 oz mushrooms, sliced
07 - 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
08 - 1 small onion, sliced
09 - 3 cloves garlic, smashed

→ Protein

10 - 10 oz shrimp, peeled and deveined or tofu

→ Seasonings and Finish

11 - 3 tablespoons fish sauce or soy sauce
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
13 - 1 teaspoon sugar
14 - 1 teaspoon chili paste nam prik pao, optional
15 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
16 - 2 green onions, sliced
17 - Lime wedges for serving

# How to Cook:

01 - In a medium pot, bring stock to a gentle boil. Add lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, chiles, garlic, and onion. Simmer for 10 minutes to infuse flavors.
02 - Add mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
03 - Add shrimp or tofu and simmer just until shrimp turn pink and cook through, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili paste if using. Taste and adjust seasoning for salt, sourness, and heat as desired.
05 - Remove from heat. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro and green onions. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It balances four distinct flavors in a way that wakes up every single one of your taste buds.
  • The broth is incredibly light yet deeply satisfying making it perfect for when you feel a bit under the weather.
02 -
  • Boiling the lime juice for too long can actually turn the broth slightly bitter.
  • The galangal and lemongrass are there for flavor only so warn your guests not to eat the woody bits.
03 -
  • Adding a teaspoon of chili paste gives the soup that signature orange glow and a smoky depth.
  • If you can find fresh kaffir lime leaves buy extra and freeze them in a bag for your next batch.
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