lauttimur.com - Prawn Tom Yum, also known as Tom Yum Goong, is a popular Thai soup known for its bold and vibrant flavors. It is a hot and sour soup made with prawns as the primary protein, but it can also include other ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, and various aromatic herbs and spices. Here's a recipe for Tom Yum with prawns:

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Ingredients:
For the Soup:

• 1 pound (450g) large prawns (shrimp), peeled and deveined
• 4 cups water or unsalted chicken or vegetable broth
• 2-3 slices of galangal (or ginger if unavailable)
• 2-3 stalks of lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces and smashed
• 3-4 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces (if unavailable, use lime zest)
• 3-5 bird's eye chili peppers, smashed (adjust to your spice preference)
• 200g (7 oz) mushrooms, sliced (straw mushrooms or button mushrooms work well)
• 1 medium tomato, cut into wedges
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 2-3 tablespoons fish sauce (adjust to taste)
• 1-2 tablespoons tamarind paste or lime juice (adjust for desired sourness)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt to taste

For Garnish:

• Fresh cilantro leaves
• Thai bird's eye chili peppers (optional, for extra heat)
• Lime wedges

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Instructions:

1. Peel and devein the prawns (shrimp), leaving the tails intact. Set them aside.
2. In a pot, bring the water or broth to a boil.
3. Add the sliced galangal (or ginger), lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves (or lime zest), and smashed chili peppers. Let it simmer for about 5-7 minutes to infuse the flavors into the broth.
4. Add the mushrooms, sliced tomato, and sliced onion to the simmering broth. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the mushrooms become tender.
5. Add fish sauce, tamarind paste (or lime juice), sugar, and salt to the broth. Adjust the amounts to reach your preferred balance of sour, salty, and sweet flavors. Taste and adjust as needed.
6. Add the peeled and deveined prawns (shrimp) to the simmering soup. Cook until they turn pink and opaque, which usually takes about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them, as prawns can become tough if cooked for too long.
7. Remove the soup from heat.
8. Remove and discard the lemongrass, galangal (or ginger), and smashed chili peppers.
9. Ladle the hot Tom Yum soup with prawns into serving bowls.
10. Garnish each bowl with fresh cilantro leaves.
11. If you like it spicier, you can also add a few extra sliced Thai bird's eye chili peppers.
12. Serve the Tom Yum soup with lime wedges on the side. Squeezing fresh lime juice into your bowl just before eating adds a burst of fresh citrus flavor.

Enjoy your homemade Prawn Tom Yum soup! It's a flavorful and aromatic Thai dish that combines spicy, sour, and savory flavors.

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