5 Occasions To Cook Yourself The Authentic Thai Soup | Tom Yum Goong
I am lucky to be around with people cooking amazing food, especially my mother who can make a soothing Tom Yum whenever I need.
The soup has a complete 3-flavors plus spiciness, and the body is runny like water—either, clear or creamy—you might even want to drink it from the bowl.
Mom taught me the sour taste is outstanding while you’re balancing with saltiness and a hint of sweetness in the hot and spicy soup. This unique flavor you would crave for in particular situations.
And she knows exactly when I want it; then she begins to cook as quick as a wink.
There are 5 occasions I feel like having this Tom Yum soup, so you, your kids, or any family members will desire when:
1. Losing appetite
There’s sometimes in your life; you don’t feel right, down or blue. You don’t want to eat anything even your favorite food.
It’s weird that the only thing I feel like, “okay I can eat some of that,” is a bowl of Tom Yum.
Maybe, it’s because of the spiciness or the sourness that can fulfill your stomach or your mind.
2. Getting up
Nothing is better than having this warm soup with steamed rice in the morning. It’s such an energy booster and gets eyes open.
If you cook it for dinner, make some extra and save it for the morning.
Same soup, different feeling.
3. Feeling sick
When you get sick, you need a lot of water.
Tom Yum has water as a body and full of nutrients. You can eat it warmer and sweat it out.
This might cure you better than medicine.
4. Having a hangover
It works, I’ve tried!
The same thing as you lose appetite when you have a hangover, you don’t feel like eating decent food but Tom Yum.
Make it hotter, spicier, saltier, and sourer!
5. Eating with vegetables
If you feel bored of eating vegetables with a bland dipping sauce or a dull dressing, make this soup and try if your meal is more interesting.
I prefer to make vegetable Tom Yum when I got a ton of mixed greens. Yes. Yum!
All right, sounds ready to make a bowl?
Let’s do it! For 1 serving/person of Creamy Tom Yum Angry Prawns. You’ll get one giant freshwater prawns and 4 of med-size prawns. The preparation time is about 15 minutes and cook time is 35 minutes(shorter if you can heat up faster)
Ingredients
- 1 freshwater prawns 1/2, head-on
- 4 shrimps 16/20, deveined
- 4 cups water
- 6 pieces of white mushrooms
- 1 clove shallot
- 1/2 piece Roma tomato
- 1 tbsp fresh bird’s eye chili
- 6 slices galangal
- 6 leaves kaffir lime leaves
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 5 tbsp fish sauce
- 3 tbsp chili oil paste
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 cup half&half
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- Cilantro, chili and cut lime for decoration
Here’s the recipe card, you can print at ease and find ingredients either from Asian markets or Amazon food&gourmet
Creamy Tom Yum Angry Prawns
Hot and sour herbal soup with a giant freshwater prawn and shrimps.
Ingredients
- 1 freshwater prawns 1/2, head-on
- 4 shrimps 16/20, deveined
- 4 cups water
- 6 pieces white mushrooms
- 1 clove shallot
- 1/2 piece Roma tomato
- 1 tbsp fresh bird's eye chili
- 6 slices galangal
- 6 leaves kaffir lime leaves
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 5 tbsp fish sauce
- 3 tbsp chili oil paste
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 cup half&half
- 1/2 cup lime juice
Instructions
Prepare shrimps by peeling and deveining. And, cut mushrooms, shallots, green onions, cilantro, and tomatoes.
Boil 3 cups of water with sliced galangal, cut lemongrass, and torn kaffir lime leaves, wait until it gives aroma.
Add the giant prawn and sliced tomatoes, wait until the broth bubbling again, then add smaller prawns and mushrooms.
Add half&half, stir and, season with fish sauce, sugar, and salt.
Add green onions and shallots, and taste it again. Then, turn off the heat and add lime juice, serve with cilantro on top.
Recipe Notes
- You can substitute with any kind of meats such as chicken breasts, chicken wings, pork ribs, beef, tofu, or vegetables.
- Always add lime juice after turn off the heat. Don't let it boil after adding it.
- If you use coconut milk instead of half&half, it will turn out to be "Tom Kha"
In conclusion, Tom Yum goong(prawns) is my all-time favorite but there are specific times I crave for are the 5 occasions above. The soup is easy to make and easy to find ingredients.
The recipe always can be adjusted due to the vary sourness of the lime juice or sauce brand; feel free to play around and get a fresh mouth to taste it.
Happy Tom Yum Day!
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