Tom Yum Egg Drop Soup (Thai x Chinese)

Method

1. Peel the tough outer layer from the lemongrass, bruise it with the back of a knife and cut into 4 cm lengths. Tear the lime leaves away from the central rib, thinly slice the ginger and lightly crush the chillies with the flat of the knife (halve and deseed them for less heat). Tear or slice the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces, cut the tomatoes into 6 to 8 wedges and devein the shrimp. Beat the eggs until no blobs of white remain.

2. Put the stock, lemongrass, lime leaves, ginger and chillies in a 18 cm pot and heat over high heat for 5 min. Once boiling, reduce to medium-low heat and infuse for 5 min so the aromatics really come through.

   Add in this stepChicken stock (low-salt) 600 mlLemongrass stalks 1Makrut lime leaves 3Fresh ginger (or galangal) 8 gBird's eye chillies 1

   high heat→medium-low heat

3. Add the mushrooms, tomatoes, fish sauce and palm sugar and cook over medium heat for 2 min, until the tomato edges just soften.

   Add in this stepMushrooms (oyster or button) 100 gMedium tomatoes 1Fish sauce 3 tspPalm sugar (or sugar) ½ tsp

   medium heat

4. Stir the cornstarch into the cold water and pour it in while stirring, then add the shrimp and cook over medium heat for 1 min 30 sec. They are done when pink and curled into a C; any longer and they toughen.

   Add in this stepRaw peeled shrimp 120 gCornstarch 2 tspCold water (for the slurry) 2 tbsp

   medium heat

5. Lower the heat to low heat, stir the soup in one direction to make a whirlpool and pour in the egg in a thin stream. Leave for 15 sec until the ribbons set, then stir gently once.

   Add in this stepEggs 2

   low heat

6. Turn off the heat and squeeze in the lime juice; boiled lime turns bitter, so always add it off the heat. Taste and balance sour, salty and hot with more fish sauce or lime, then top with coriander. The lemongrass, lime leaves and ginger are there for aroma: fish them out or leave them in the pot rather than eating them.

   Add in this stepLimes 1Coriander leaves 5 g