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Turn up the heat with this fragrant Thai tom yum-style soup. The base is simple to make as it requires only a few aromatics to flavour the stock, and you can add any seafood you like. I used prawns. A light spring time soup for the change of season.
Ingredients
12 large green prawns, peeled, de-veined, tails intact
Coriander (optional) and lime cheeks, to serve
Broth
· 1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock (the cubes are too salty so use real stock)
· 1 (or more to taste) Tablespoon of red curry paste OR
6 thin slices galangal
4 garlic cloves, bruised
4 red or golden shallots, cut into thin wedges
4 small red chillies (or to taste), halved lengthways
2 lemongrass stalks, white part only, thickly sliced diagonally
· 2 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
· 6 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped
· 60 ml (¼ cup) lime juice
· 2 tbsp fish sauce (or to taste)
For hot-and-sour broth, bring stock, galangal, garlic, shallot and lemongrass to the boil in a saucepan. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until stock is well flavoured (at least 5 minutes). Add remaining ingredients and season to taste (broth should be a balance of hot, sour and salty).
Add prawns to broth and cook (1 minute), then simmer until prawns are just cooked (about 2 minutes). Divide soup among bowls and top with coriander. Serve with rice and lime on the side.
