Tom Yum Soup (Print Version)

Aromatic Thai soup with lemongrass, lime, and bold flavors in 35 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

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

→ Protein

10 - 10 ounces 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, optional
15 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
16 - 2 green onions, sliced
17 - Lime wedges for serving

# How to Make:

01 - In a medium pot, bring the stock to a gentle boil. Add lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, chiles, garlic, and onion. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to infuse.
02 - Add mushrooms and tomatoes to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
03 - Add shrimp or tofu and simmer just until shrimp turns pink and is cooked 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 the soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro and green onions. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This soup hits every flavor note your cravings could possibly want in one steaming bowl
  • Once you master the broth base, you can customize it endlessly based on whats in your fridge
02 -
  • The aromatics can be left in the broth for rustic texture or strained out for a cleaner finish
  • Nam prik pao is the secret ingredient that transforms good Tom Yum into great Tom Yum
03 -
  • Smash lemongrass with the back of a knife or a heavy pan to release its oils
  • Room temperature shrimp cook more evenly than cold ones straight from the fridge
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