Tom Yum Goong - Sour & Spicy Lemongrass Shrimp Soup Recipe

Tom Yum is probably the most famous of Thai soups and is popular not only in Thailand but in Thai restaurants worldwide. It is a clear, sour soup flavored with fragrant lemon grass, fresh galangal root and kaffir lime leaf. This potent herbal mixture is well known for its medicinal properties. 918kiss 
Ingredients

4 cups of water

2 stalks fresh lemongrass, trim off the very end of the root and smash with the side of a cleaver or chef's knife; cut into 1 inch pieces; or 2 pc dried

3 slices fresh galangal root (smashed) or 2 pc dried

3 fresh kaffir lime leave or 4 pc dried

1 tbsp. tamarind paste, with or without seeds

1 tbsp. fish sauce, Golden Boy brand preferred

3/4 lb shrimps, medium to large size, shelled and de-veined; butterfly if desired

12 fresh Thai chili peppers, whole or 2 medium sized jalepenos, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips.

1/2 small white onion, cut 1/4 inch slices

2 tbsp. roasted chili paste (nam prik pao)

1 (16 oz.) can straw mushrooms, drained and rinsed

1 small ripe tomato, cut into wedges 1/4 inch thick

1 small lime, squeezed

2 sprigs fresh cilantro