Tom Yum Goong
The hot-and-sour prawn soup that defines Thai cooking: lemongrass, galangal and lime leaf simmered into a broth, then sharpened with lime and fish sauce off the heat.
Method
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Fry the reserved prawn shells in a dry pot over high heat for 3 minutes until pink and fragrant, then add the stock and simmer 10 minutes. Strain and return the broth to the pot — this small step doubles the depth.
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Add the lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves and bruised chillies and simmer for 8 minutes to infuse.
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Stir in the chilli jam until dissolved, then add the mushrooms and tomatoes and cook 3 minutes.
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Add the prawns and shallots and poach for 2 minutes, until they have just turned opaque. Do not overcook them.
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Take the pot off the heat completely.
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Now season with the fish sauce, lime juice and sugar, tasting as you go. It should be aggressively sour, then salty, then hot.
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Stir through the coriander and serve immediately, leaving the aromatics in the bowl as garnish.
Chef’s Tips
- Galangal is not ginger and there is no substitute — its pine-citrus note is the backbone of the soup.
- Season off the heat, always. Boiling the lime juice makes it bitter within a minute.
- For tom yum nam khon, the creamy version, stir in 3 tablespoons of evaporated milk at the end.
Pairing Suggestions
- A cold lager or a very dry Riesling
- Serve with jasmine rice to temper the heat
- Follow with mango sticky rice
Storage & Reheating
The broth base keeps 3 days refrigerated. Poach the prawns and add the seasoning fresh each time.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.