Description
Make classic Thai Tom Yum Goong at home. This recipe delivers the signature hot, sour, and aromatic flavor profile quickly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 inch galangal, thinly sliced (or ginger if galangal is unavailable)
- 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
- 1/2 cup straw mushrooms, halved (or button mushrooms)
- 2 tablespoons Thai chili paste (Nam Prik Pao)
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 small red Thai chili, sliced (adjust to your heat preference)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the broth, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves in a medium pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the broth with the aromatics.
- Strain the broth to remove the lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves for a clearer soup base, or leave them in for a more rustic presentation. Return the broth to the pot.
- Add the mushrooms and chili paste to the simmering broth. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the shrimp and sliced fresh chili. Cook until the shrimp turn pink and opaque, about 3 to 4 minutes. Do not overcook the shrimp.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fish sauce and lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more lime for sourness or fish sauce for saltiness.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish generously with fresh cilantro before serving immediately.
Notes
- For a creamy Tom Yum (Tom Yum Nam Khon), stir in 1/4 cup of evaporated milk or light coconut milk just before serving, after removing the pot from the heat.
- Substitute shrimp with sliced chicken breast or firm tofu cubes for different protein options.
- If you cannot find kaffir lime leaves, use the zest of one lime, but the flavor will be less authentic.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop Simmering
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 150