What Is Tom Yum Goong Soup
Tom yum is a Thai hot and sour soup with many versions including shrimp, chicken and tofu. The tom in tom yum translates as boil, while yum means to mix or blend. This recipe Im sharing is made with shrimp, or goong, because shrimp adds a rich seafood flavor to the broth.
Believed to originate in central Thailand near the Chao Praya River, tom yum has evolved from containing ingredients such as snakehead fish, shredded green mango, madan fruit and pickle brine to what is now considered the three essential ingredients of tom yum today: lemongrass, makrut lime leaf and galangal. The citrusy taste of lemongrass and makrut lime leaf combined with the sharp piney flavor of galangal results in the tart and distinct flavors of Thai cooking.
Tom yum has continued to evolve in Thailand today. You can find a creamy, milky version made with the addition of evaporated milk or cows milk. Both nam khon and tom yum are close siblings to tom kha soup and khao soi.
What Is The Difference Between Tom Kha And Tom Yum Soup
Tom Kha is another very well known Thai soup and it calls for almost the exact same ingredients as Tom Yum soup. The only difference is the use of coconut milk in Tom Kha makes the soup a tiny bit more creamy and slightly sweeter than the boldly sour and salty soup of Tom Yum. Stay tuned for my Tom Kha recipe coming up very soon so you can try both and see which one you like best!
A Prepare The Shrimp Stock For Tom Yum
Clean the shrimp heads and shells thoroughly with water. You can use all the heads and shells from the shrimp to cook this tom yum soup, but the flavor might not be enough. Therefore, I suggest you keep the shrimp heads and shells whenever you purchase shrimp and keep them for this purpose.
Bring a pot of water, about 1.5 liters, to a boil. Place all the heads and shells into it and wait until it starts to boil again.
Reduce the heat and keep it at a constant boil with the lid on for fifteen minutes, enough to extract all the flavor.
Remove the heads and shells by pouring the stock through a wire mesh strainer. The stock should now be reduced to about 1 liter, which is the right amount for this recipe.
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How To Make Quick And Easy Tom Yum Soup
Pour 4 cups of chicken stock into a medium-sized pot or saucepan. . For my homemade Chicken stock recipe, click here.
If you do not have access to chicken stock or bouillon, you could use just plain water as well.
Add 2 stalks of lemongrass and 3 slices of galangal to the chicken stock . The galangal slices should be about 1/8-inch thick.
Bring the stock to a boil over medium-high heat.
When the chicken stock starts to boil rapidly, add 2 tablespoons of Tom Yum paste to the soup.
. You may also use store-bought Tom Yum Paste.
Note: I find that store-bought Tom Yum Paste tends to be a bit stronger and spicier than the homemade version. It can also differ by brand. I highly recommend adding 1 tablespoon of Tom Yum Paste to the soup first, doing a quick taste test to see if its strong enough, then adding more if needed.
Add 2 kaffir lime leaves to the soup.
Add 1 cup of mushrooms.
Just about any type of mushroom will work but some popular options for Tom Yum include oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, straw mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and the common white or brown button mushrooms.
Add 1 cup of cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes to the soup.
Add one Thai bird chili for a spicy kick. If you prefer a milder soup, you can skip this step.
Allow the soup to return to a rolling boil before adding 8 10 large shrimp.
Whether the shrimp is peeled or with the shell on is your choice. Traditionally, whole shrimp with the shell are used .
Immediately add 1 tablespoon of sugar,
Enjoy!
What Does Tom Yum Mean
The name Tom Yum is derived from two Thai words
Tom refers to boiling.
Yum refers to the spicy and sour flavor combination.
There are many variations of Tom Yum Soup in Thailand. Yet this classic recipe, and most popular version, is sometimes called Tom Yum Goong or Tom Yum Kung.
Both of the words Goong and Kung refer to shrimp or prawns.
So in essence, the name means Boiling Hot and Sour Shrimp soup.
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Authentic Tom Yum Soup Paste Recipe
I grew up eating tom yum soup made from scratch. Its a bit of a process but not entirely too difficult. We made chicken broth from scratch toomeaning we caught our free roaming chicken from our yard and ummmade homemade broth from the unlucky chicken. That was just how we lived back then. We then made the tom yum paste for the base from herbs and spices like Thai chili peppers, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, most of which we found in our own yard. That paste was then combined with the broth, additional herbs and meat and we had a delicious meal.
Here in the US, I often buy pre-made tom yum paste and I dont chase any free range chicken for my soup broth. Ill wait for that the next time I go to Thailand to visit my family.
For the Tom Yum paste, I recommend the brand pictured above, you can find it at most Asian markets near you. I also have used, love and recommend this brand of Tom Yum paste. Make sure to always refrigerate your paste after opening, it will keep for 3-6 months or longer.
Related Recipe To Tom Yum Soup
Here are my top picks of the best Asian soups for you:Chinese hot and sour soup is a traditional northern Chinese favorite packed with the acidity of the vinegar, the spiciness of the pepper, and the nuttiness of sesame oil. I am sure you will love it, just like the tom yum soup!Soto ayam is a chicken soup that originated from Indonesia. It is prepared with an entirely different set of herbs and spices than tom yum. Give it a try.Egg drop soup is the easiest Chinese soup recipe to prepare. This soup is the perfect choice when you are busy, as you can do it in fifteen minutes.
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What Does Tom Yum Taste Like
Tom Yum Soup is a hot and sour soup with several different tasting variations, all made with galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and lime juice and usually shrimp or seafood for protein .
The basic Tom Yum is the clear soup version called Tom Yum Nahm Sai which has a clean, aromatic, sour taste. Then there is a variation adding chili paste called Tom Yum Nahm Kon which makes the soup a reddish color with a little spicier and complex flavor.
Both variations can have evaporated milk added for a creamier taste and, confusingly, also called nam kon . That makes Tom Yum really four soups in one, each with a quite different taste.
I really hope you enjoy this dish and if you cook it I would love to hear your comments below so please come back and let me know how it turned out for you.
Thai Tom Yum Soup Recipe On Your Table In 30 Minutes One Of The Easiest Quickest Yet Most Flavorful Soups You Will Ever Taste
Tom Yum Soup is the most popular soup in Thailand for a reason. Its bold yet light, tart, salty and citrusy, bursting with layer upon layer of intoxicating flavor from the lemongrass, garlic, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, and fish sauce along with tender juicy shrimp and mushrooms. This Tom Yum Soup recipe is naturally gluten free and can be made vegetarian and vegan as well. Ive also included pantry friendly substitutions for the more exotic ingredients such as galangal and kaffir lime leaves that arent authentic but they taste like it! Because everyone needs Tom Yum Soup in their life!
Its no secret that Thai food is my favorite cuisine! Ive created recipes for several of my favorite Thai dishes including Panang Curry, Red Curry,Pad Thai,Tom Kha Gai, Yellow Curry, Coconut Curry Chicken, and so much more so dont miss out!
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A Popular Variation On The Classic Tom Yum Soup
Tom yum goong nam kon
You might have had creamy versions of tom yum soup…so what’s up with those? Assuming you weren’t actually having tom kha, there’s a very modern version of tom yum in Thailand called tom yum goong nam kon or “creamy tom yum with shrimp”.
I LOVE it, and I’d say I prefer it if it’s the only thing I’m having because it’s more substantial. Instead of the clear broth, we enrich it with….drumroll….evaporated milk! Surprise! Check out my creamy tom yum goong recipe here.
You might have thought coconut milk would be used, but evaporated milk is used to add richness and creaminess without interfering much with the flavours of tom yum. If you add coconut milk, which you absolutely can, the coconut milk flavour will come through in a major way. This isn’t a bad thing at all, it’s delicious, but it’s different and will end up tasting a bit more like the other popular Thai soup – tom kha gai.
The Step By Step Instructions
Read the recipe notes for ingredient substitutions and suggestions.
First, prepare and chop the various ingredients. Thinly slice the mushrooms . Also, slice the galangal into disks and dice the tomatoes. Finally, prepare the lemongrass.
Cut off the lower bulb of the lemongrass and remove any tough outer leaves. Then slice into sections. Any tough bits will be inedible and will need to be removed from the soup before serving. Otherwise, it can be kept in.
Place the chilies, garlic, lime leaves, galangal, and lemongrass in a bowl. Then use a pestle to gently crush the ingredients together into slightly more of a mash.
Chefs Note: I keep my pieces larger for the ingredients making up what is usually a paste. In this way, they dont crush down into too much of a paste. However, if you prefer a finer texture then feel free to mince the ingredients before crushing them in the mortar and pestle.
In a large pan, first heat up the coconut oil, then add the crushed spices mixture and saute lightly for just a minute.
Then add the vegetable broth and coconut milk and stir well.
Finally, add the tomatoes and mushrooms and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for around 10 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.
Remove the lime leaves and any tough bits of lemongrass , then your soup is ready to serve. Enjoy!
Optionally garnish with some cilantro or Thai basil.
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Is Tom Yum Soup Healthy
Flavored with aromatics and filled with vegetables and lean shrimp, tom yum is a healthy option for lunch or dinner. To make this soup lighter, use low-fat coconut milk or omit it altogether. More vegetables can also be used in place of the shrimp. Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the amount of salt.
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What Is Tom Yum Soup Made Of
Tom Yum Soup is made with a base of chicken broth or homemade shrimp stock infused with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and Thai red chilies. Shrimp is the most popular protein too add to the soup. Its bright and refreshing, both light and satisfying at the same time, and its layers of tantalizing spices are mesmerizing.
In this Tom Yum Soup recipe, Ive included instructions on how to make the soup with more exotic, authentic ingredients as well as how to make it with with easy-to-find ingredients because I want everyone to be able to make this tantalizing soup! I think youll find, however, that your Tom Yum Soup will taste every bit as complex, authentic and delicious with the pantry substitutions winning.
The ingredient list for Tom Yum Soup looks lengthy, but I promise the soup comes together very quickly!
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How To Make Tom Yum Gai Instructions With Step By Step Pictures
- Dont forget to remove the chunky herbs before eating, especially the lemongrass, if you dont want to eat them. They will not harm you but they are pretty strong in flavor and hard to chew if you are not used to them. Enjoy your chicken Tom Yum Soup!!
Tom Yum soup can be eaten as a stand-alone dish. You can add cooked Jasmine rice to the bowl if desired. My Thai family and I often do so as it makes the soup more hearty. Rice serves as a great buffer too for the spicy flavors of the soup! (:
Tom Yum Soup Recipe With Chicken
Tom Yum Soup is a popular Thai sour and spicy soup with bold flavors from chicken broth, tom yum soup paste, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce and fresh lime juice. Not only is this delicious Tom Yum soup recipe with chicken healthy, it is full of flavors that will keep you wanting more all winter long.
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Why Is Tom Yum Goong So Popular
A sour-spicy, sweet-salty, fragrant shrimp soup, tom yum goong is right up there with pad Thai or tom kha for quintessential and perennially favorite Thai foods. An exquisite mix of the hot and tangy flavors, you get a true taste of Thailand in every bowl. Tom yum means, broadly speaking, boiled salad which basically defines a highly flavored broth. Goong is the shrimp part although chicken or pork is popular, too.
Difference Between Tom Yum And Tom Kha
The soup broth flavour base is the same, but the key difference is that Tom Kha has chilli paste and a splash of coconut milk added. In fact, Tom Kha is the creamy version of Tom Yum Im sharing today if you use the coconut milk option instead of evaporated milk!
Tom Yum is best made with whole prawns/shrimp that you peel yourself. But Ive got a recipe made with frozen peeled prawns too see recipe notes!!
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Saut Aromatics Veggies Mushrooms
7. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan. Add 2 tablespoons sliced shallots and ½ teaspoon finely chopped garlic.
8. Sauté for a minute on low to low-medium flame.
9. Add the veggies and mushrooms. You can add your choice of mix veggies to the soup, but do add mushrooms as they give a nice taste and texture in the soup.
10. Mix well and saute for a minute.
Add In Ideas For This Tom Yum Thai Soup Recipe
- Add noodles to make shrimp tom yum a meal! Soba Noodles are a good option, simply cook the noodles according to package instructions , drain, rinse and place in a soup bowl. Pour the spicy Thai soup over the noodles and enjoy!
- Tomato cut into quarters. Add them at the same time you add the mushrooms.
- Sliced onions. Add them at the same time you add the mushrooms.
- Instead of straw mushrooms, you can add sliced Shiitake or white button mushrooms.
- Sliced scallions. Add them with the cilantro.
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C Extract The Flavor Of The Spices
Bring the shrimp stock to a boil again.
Place the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, garlic, and shallot in the boiling water, and let it simmer for fifteen minutes. Keep the pot cover to prevent the stock from reduced too much.
It takes slightly longer to extract the flavor since I do not bash the lemongrass and tear the kaffir lime leaves. If you have done so, ten minutes should be enough to extract the taste of these ingredients.
After fifteen minutes, remove these ingredients from the stock. You can leave them inside and proceed to the next step, but I think the amount of these unpalatable ingredients is too much, and therefore decided to remove it. I will choose some nice-looking pieces to add back to the stock as garnishing at a later stage.
What Is Tom Yum
Tom Yum in Thai literally means, Boiled Mixed Tom = Boiled, Yum = Mixed. Tom Yum soups are typically known for the use of large shrimp in the dish, but like many Thai recipes, its not confined to the traditional culinary rules. The combination of meat used varies and its totally up to you on what you like to eat! You can use seafood combinations like fish, shrimp, scallop, squid, mussels. Chicken and vegetarian versions are also popular. In this recipe, I use chicken, which in Thai is called Tom Yum Gai, Gai meaning chicken. Trust me, it is a delicious one!
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