Tom Yum Goong (Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup)

Method

1. Pull the heads off the shrimp, peel them and make a shallow cut along the back to pull out the dark vein (you can leave the tails on). Bash the lemongrass with the back of a knife and cut it diagonally into 4 cm pieces. Slice the galangal 2 to 3 mm thick. Tear the lime leaves off their tough centre rib, and lightly crush the chilies with the flat of the knife. Cut the mushrooms into bite-size pieces and the tomato into 8 wedges.

2. Pour the stock into a 18 cm pot and heat over high heat for about 6 min until it is at a rolling boil.

   Add in this stepChicken stock (or water) 700 ml

   high heat

3. Add the lemongrass, galangal and half the lime leaves and boil over medium heat for 4 min to infuse. You are ready when a fresh, citrusy smell rises from the pot.

   Add in this stepLemongrass stalks 2Galangal slices (or half as much ginger) 5Makrut lime leaves 2½

   medium heat

4. Add the mushrooms, tomato and chili paste, stir to dissolve the paste and cook over medium heat for 2 min, until the broth turns orange and the mushrooms soften.

   Add in this stepMushrooms (straw, oyster or button) 120 gTomato 1Nam prik pao (Thai chili paste in oil) 1½ tbsp

   medium heat

5. Add the shrimp and cook over medium heat for 2 min. As soon as they turn pink and curl into a loose C shape, turn off the heat; any longer and they go rubbery.

   Add in this stepShrimp (head-on if you can find them) 220 g

   medium heat

6. With the heat off, stir in the fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, crushed chilies and remaining lime leaves, then taste. Sour and salty should hit first, with the heat following right behind. Always add lime off the heat, because boiling makes it bitter.

   Add in this stepFish sauce 2 tbspSugar ½ tspLime juice 2 tbspThai bird's eye chilies 3Makrut lime leaves 2½

7. Ladle into bowls and top with cilantro. The lemongrass, galangal and lime leaves are only for flavour, so push them aside rather than eating them. Serve with hot jasmine rice.

   Add in this stepCilantro sprigs 3