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Authentic Spicy & Sour Shrimp Tom Yum Soup (Tom Yum Goong)

Close-up of a white bowl filled with steaming, vibrant red tom yum soup featuring large shrimp and sliced mushrooms.
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Make the best homemade Tom Yum Soup with this easy recipe. You get the bold, spicy, and sour flavor of authentic Thai food in under 45 minutes.

Ingredients

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  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 stalk lemongrass, tough outer layers removed, bruised, and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 slices galangal (or ginger if galangal is unavailable)
  • 5 kaffir lime leaves, torn in half
  • 1–2 Thai bird’s eye chilies, crushed (adjust for heat preference)
  • 1/2 cup straw mushrooms, halved (or button mushrooms)
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon chili paste in oil (Nam Prik Pao) for authentic flavor

Instructions

  1. Combine the broth, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and crushed chilies in a medium pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
  2. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the broth with the aromatics. This step builds the base flavor for your authentic Thai soup recipe.
  3. Strain the broth to remove the lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, returning the clear broth to the pot. Discard the solids.
  4. Bring the broth back to a gentle simmer. Add the shrimp and mushrooms. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Do not overcook the shrimp.
  5. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili paste in oil. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning; you want a strong balance of spicy and sour.
  6. Ladle the hot and sour broth and shrimp into bowls. Garnish generously with fresh cilantro before serving your homemade Tom Yum Goong.

Notes

  • For a creamy Tom Yum Soup variation, stir in 1/4 cup of coconut milk or evaporated milk after removing the pot from the heat in Step 5.
  • If you cannot find galangal, use fresh ginger, but note that the flavor profile will shift slightly from traditional Tom Yum Soup.
  • To make this a Vegetarian Tom Yum, substitute the shrimp with firm tofu or extra mushrooms, and replace the fish sauce with soy sauce or vegetarian fish sauce.
  • Serve this spicy and sour soup with a side of steamed jasmine rice for a complete weeknight Thai meal.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://rosatasty.com/tom-yum-soup-recipe-spicy-sour-shrimp/