Wait! Don't leave! I'm not talking about Sandra Lee...I'm talking about Tom Yum soup that you can make from home in
minutes using prepared Tom Yum paste. You could grind the paste yourself, but save yourself the effort. Pre-made
Tom Yum paste is available in any well-stocked Asian (or specifically Thai) grocery store. In San Francisco, Calif. I
get mine at New May Wah Supermarket on Clement Street. I made some for dinner last night because I've been feeling under the weather. I'm so glad I did. That, plus a hot toddy, fixed me right up. Everyone should know this Tom Yum "cheat." It's quick, easy, and delicious.
Tom Yum (Thai Hot and Sour Soup)
Dissolve 4 tablespoons Tom Yum paste (Maesri brand) into 4 cups of simmering chicken stock. Cook 5-10 minutes.
Add half a pound of peeled and de-veined raw shrimp (tails on), 1 can of straw mushrooms, rinsed, and the juice of half a lime. (At this point you can also add a few inches of lemon grass stalk, crushed, and a slice or two of galangal. These additions are optional.)
Allow shrimp to heat through, and just before serving, swirl in 6 tablespoons of evaporated milk. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges and fish sauce. Serve hot jasmine rice on the side.
2-07-2006 @9:32AM Chef B said... PLEASE for the love of God, DO NOT use the term "Semi-Homemade" EVER again!!!
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2-10-2006 @10:37AM Carl Weaver said... I found a jar of tom yum paste a few years ago after trying unsuccessfully to replicate the tom yum experience at home. It was like a godsend. My friend Luanne calls this soup "the stinky soup" because of its (often) horrid smell. But for something that smells so much like sewage, it sure is delicious!
I once had to have a meeting in my office and wanted it to be over with quickly, so I brought some tom yum soup. Sure enough, people had had their fill of the odor after half an hour so.
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