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Authentic Thai Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)

A close-up of a dark bowl filled with vibrant tom yum soup, featuring large shrimp, mushrooms, and fresh cilantro.
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Make authentic Thai Tom Yum Goong, a hot and sour soup, easily at home. This recipe focuses on the clear broth style, using traditional herbs for a vibrant, restaurant-quality flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and bruised
  • 4 slices galangal (or ginger if galangal is unavailable)
  • 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
  • 2–3 Thai chilies, crushed (adjust to your heat preference)
  • 1/2 cup straw mushrooms, halved
  • 3 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Pour the broth into a medium pot and bring it to a simmer over medium heat.
  2. Add the bruised lemongrass, galangal slices, torn kaffir lime leaves, and crushed chilies to the broth. Let this simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the flavors. This step creates the authentic Asian soup base.
  3. Add the mushrooms to the pot and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Add the peeled shrimp. Cook until the shrimp turn pink and opaque, about 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook.
  5. Remove the pot from the heat. Remove and discard the lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves, as they are tough to eat.
  6. Stir in the fish sauce, fresh lime juice, and sugar. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning to achieve the right balance of hot, sour, and salty.
  7. Ladle the Tom Yum Goong into bowls. Garnish generously with fresh cilantro before serving. This quick Thai soup is best served immediately.

Notes

  • For a creamy Tom Yum version, stir in 1/4 cup of evaporated milk or coconut milk just before adding the lime juice.
  • If you want Tom Yum with noodles, add 4 ounces of thin rice vermicelli noodles to the simmering broth after removing the herbs, cooking until tender.
  • You can substitute chicken breast slices for shrimp to make a flavorful chicken soup Thai style.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/authentic-tom-yum-soup-recipe/