Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup also known as Tom Yum Goong is a fragrant, spicy and sour soup flavor explosion made with authentic Thai ingredients.
If you like spicy food, you have finally found your match. Thai Hot and sour Prawn Soup packs a big punch of heat. There is absolutely nothing mild about the heat or flavoring aromatics of this recipe. Those little Thai bird chilis might be little but they are quite mighty whether you enjoy them in a Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wrap or in a soup.
You are going to love Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup because its spicy, sour, savory and balanced with a little sweet. Like all Thai Cuisine recipes, the balance here is key to a delicious soup.
Jump to:
- Do you know what Tom Yum Goong means?
- Different Flavor Sensors on Tongue
- Traditional Thai Ingredients
- Exchanges and Substitutions
- Freeze Fresh Thai Herbs and Spices
- How to prepare kaffir lime leaves?
- Smart Cook Thai Cookery School in Chiang Mai, Thailand
- More Thai Cuisine Recipes
- Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup
Do you know what Tom Yum Goong means?
In Thai “Tom” means to boil “Yum” is salad as it has some of the same aromatics as a salad. “Goong” means prawns. So loosely translated it is a boiled salad with prawns… LOL. There are a couple different versions of Tom Yum Soup. Sometimes, there will be the addition of coconut milk.
If one swaps the out the prawns with fish or chicken, they will have correlated names and the ingredients will differ slightly. Today, we are making a clear broth Tom Yum Goong without coconut milk.
Different Flavor Sensors on Tongue
- You taste salty on the tip of tongue and edges of the front of your tongue.
- Sweet sensors are located in the front of your tongue.
- Sour taste buds are located on the sides of the tongue.
- The back of your tongue senses bitter.
If you take a sip of Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup you will initially taste the salty on the tip of your tongue, the lime on the sides and heat just everywhere… The sweet helps to balance to heat and the salty components of this soup. If you love Thai Flavors, be sure to try our Thai Firecracker Shrimp Party Appetizer, Prik Nam Pla and Thai Cuisine recipes.
Traditional Thai Ingredients
There are a handful of ingredients that are essential to Thai cooking.
Kaffir Lime leaves – The crushed leaves emit an intense citrus aroma
Lemongrass – culinary and medicinal cooling herb that smells like fresh lemons
Galangal – cooling herb that is very firm and difficult to chop but is very zesty and aromatic – different than ginger
Thai chili peppers – SPICY FIRE
Shallots – aromatic
Fish sauce – adds a deep blend of savory notes to the recipe
Fresh limes – adds a delightful sour note to Hot and Sour Prawn Soup – only add after you turn the heat off.
Exchanges and Substitutions
Fresh limes, fish sauce, shallots and lemongrass are pretty readily available in most places.
- If you are struggling finding lemongrass, you can also use the squeeze version in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Fresh is always preferred. However, in a pinch, this works well.
- It is more difficult to locate kaffir lime leaves, galangal and Thai Chili peppers. Many whole foods stores and specialty stores sell kaffir lime leaves online. Some stores sell dried whole kaffir limes too. In a pinch, use the zest of a fresh lime but only add at the end of the cooking process so it does not become bitter.
- Some people will add fresh grated ginger or ½ amount of dried ground ginger. However, please note that ginger is a warming spice and galangal is a cooling spice so they will create a different flavor profile in your recipe.
- If you can find Thai Bird chilis, use the chilis you have access to. Enjoy and adjust amount for the Scoville heat index. If all else fails, skip all the additions and just add a huge dose of Thai Red Curry paste and call it a day!
Freeze Fresh Thai Herbs and Spices
We absolutely love visiting the Asian Market and getting our fresh traditional supplies. As they always package up way more than you will use for one meal, we freeze the ingredients. Then, just take out of freezer to unthaw as needed.
This method works fabulous for kaffir lime leaves, chili, sliced galangal and lemongrass, just to name a few. Check out our post on Essential Thai Herbs and Spices to learn more.
How to prepare kaffir lime leaves?
If you just drop the whole kaffir lime leaves into your soup pot, they will not release any flavor. The best way we have found to get the fragrant oils out of the kaffir lime leaves is to fold in half along the stem and remove the stem. This works like a charm. You may also tear or crush the kaffir lime leaves, if you prefer.
Smart Cook Thai Cookery School in Chiang Mai, Thailand
We originally posted this recipe in January 2012 after a trip to Chiang Mai. Since then, we have been to Thailand more times than we can count and have made this Thai Hot and Prawn Soup on numerous occasions.
If you ever visit Chiang Mai, we had a delightful time at the Smart Cook Thai Cookery School in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Their staff is very knowledgeable, and it is well coordinated. Unlike many cooking classes where you stand back and watch, this one you do everything and have your own wok station.
After all…you can only do so many temple tours.
More Thai Cuisine Recipes
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Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 3 stalks lemon grass
(crushed with the back of your knife) - 6 slices galangal
(Thai ginger) - 4 kaffir limes leaves torn in half – remove stem
- 1-3 chilies
fresh or dried (crushed if you want them hot) - 2 tomatoes cut into quarters
- 4 oz mushrooms
shimeji (or mushrooms of choice) - 1 shallot shallot
cut into quarters - 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoon brown sugar
or sugar alternative of choice - 8-10 prawns peeled and deveined (can substitute large shrimp, seafood, tofu, or even chicken if you wish)
- 3 teaspoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoon cilantro (coriander) for garnish - optional
Instructions
- Boil the chicken stock in a pot, add lemon grass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chilies, cook until boiling.
- Reduce heat to a simmer.
- Add crushed tomatoes, mushrooms and shallot in the pot with a gentle stir. Wait for a few minutes until everything is cooked.
- Season with fish sauce and sugar. Bring soup back up to a boil. Add prawns and lime juice. Turn off heat. Let sit for 10 minutes. The heat of the broth will cook the shrimp. (your shrimp should no longer be translucent, be bright pink and white and look like the letter C) Taste and adjust for your liking. If you want it sourer, add more lime juice. Saltier add more fish sauce. Sweet add more brown sugar or sugar alternative.
- Sprinkle with cilantro (coriander) and its ready to serve. Enjoy!
Eha Carr says
One of my very favourite Asian soups and I want to try your recipe your way next time I make it ! OK - we may get droughts, bushfires, the Covid and now floods all in the one place in the one year . . . but we surely do not have to look for ant 'Asian' store for any of these ingredients . . . I live in the country but all are available at the nearest supermarket ! Grow my own lemongrass anyways . . . if one does not cut back, one has a forest 🙂 !! I have not usually added mushrooms and I prefer it clear, already for health reasons . . . . lovely . . .
HWC Magazine says
Hiya Eha, and now floods?!? Good grief! Stay safe dear friend. So happy to hear that you are growing your own lemongrass too. One of our favorite ways to make any Thai recipe extra special. Take Care
Eha Carr says
*very wry grin^ Yes - a large part of my state just had about 8 inches a day for three days on lands where Covid restrictions have not yet allowed people to have their properties cleared after the bushfires: many are still living in caravans etc mid-winter. And the first new season bushfure reports have just started . . . a little creepy tho' in many places there is not that much to burn. For the first time in many years the dams are nearly full . . .
HWC Magazine says
Wow Eha! This news is very overwhelming and stressful for all involved. Between natural disasters and covid, the world is a very fragile place. I say it can only get better from here as we are at the bottom. Stay strong, stay well and please take care dear friend.
Wholesome Cook says
I was craving this last night - what a great privilege to have learn the recipe from the locals and to now be able to share the recipe! I'll be making this for sure, love my laksa hot so this should be good! PS I have once rubbed my eye after slicing birds eye chillies, it was swollen up for a day!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I feel your pain. Bird chillies are so hot, even just the smell of them being cut up sometime takes your breath away.
Zoe @ Pantry and Fridge says
You're right! Double yikes says it all but DOUBLE YUM!!!
😀
Healthy World Cuisine says
Double Double yikes!!! When our culinary instructor was telling us this story I was both laughing and crying from the heat that was coming off the cutting boards, from all of the chillies. Take care
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide says
This looks just incredible. Great photos too!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Greg. I'm actually shocked that any of my pictures actually even turned out as I was still overcome from chillies in the eye....
Chopinand @ ChopinandMysaucepan says
Dear Bobbi,
This is a great recipe! Luckily we can get really good quality ready-made tom yum paste and fresh seafood in abundance here in Sydney. This is really one of our fave soups in winter to warm up and it's so fragrant and appetizing too!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Chopinand and thank you! I am glad to hear that you can get all the ingredients where you live. I think there are many substitutions that can be made for people that do not have access to an Asian food market. I am glad to hear that they have Tom Yum paste in Sydney which has all of your Thai required spices in the mix. Kaffir lime Leaves is really one of the only ingredients in this dish that does not have a good substitute. It is a great warming soup. Take Care, BAM
Mary says
This sounds delicious. I would have to quiet the chilis a bit, but I know my family will love this. I hope you have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Mary, me too, I like my soup more mild and my teenage boys like it really hot so we usually come up up with a medium hot compromise.
Jill | Dulce Dough says
I love hot and sour soup! What great photos!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Jill, I am having a blast here in Thailand doing my favorite thing- cooking.
RecipeAdaptors says
I bet that is so tasty.
Healthy World Cuisine says
It is so yummy with all of the spices. Like an explosion of flavors going on in your mouth. Thanks Recipe adapters!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I'm thankful for this post! This soup and recipe sounds wonderful and I'm bookmarking this and try soon! I love Thai food and this is great!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Nami-san! Thai food is a great mix of many Asian flavors from India and China and many other countries makes for some very yummy dishes. Take care, BAM
Kay aka Babygirl says
I would have never thought to add Prawns to a soup before.. but I know I will be trying this soup as soon as I go out and purchase some prawns. I can't wait to try this
Healthy World Cuisine says
Chicken and tofu work great as well in this dish. Take Care, BAM
zestybeandog says
I love lemongrass in soups, it's such a nice delicate flavor. This looks great!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Lemongrass smells so delightful. I love it in recipes. I also purchased some lemongrass "soap" while in Thailand as I very much just love this vibrant and fresh smell to start my day. Take care, BAM
lambyknits01 says
Sounds like an amazing soup!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. I hope you are having a great 2012. Take Care, BAM
thebigfatnoodle says
Oh yum, this is one of my all time favourite soups!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Me too! It is especially yummy on these cooler days. It warms you up from the inside out. Take Care, BAM
gardenfreshtomatoes says
Sounds wonderful...make mine medium-hot 😉
More amazing photos, as well!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Marie, I always knew you were a spicy girl! Thanks for your nice comments.
Joanne Ozug says
YUM! I love hot and sour prawn soup!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Joanne, Can you get Kaffir lime leaves where you live? BAM