Tom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (2024)

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Tom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (1)

Last week I was looking over all the recipes we’ve posted up until now, and one glaring thing really stood out to me. WE HAVEN’T POSTED ANY THAI RECIPES! Like, what the hell have I been doing folks? So, it should come at no surprise that today we are going to be making a classic Thai dish. And since it’s finally soup weather here in Colorado I figured there was no better Thai recipe to make then delicious tom yum soup.

Now for those of you who are unfamiliar with tom yum all you need to know is that it’s a light soup that’s a perfectly balanced combination of salty, sour, and spicy flavors. And while today’s recipe for tom yum soup does have a long list of ingredients, don’t let that scare you. This is really one of the easiest soups you can make. Thiers no sauteing involved, and no special concoctions that you have to mix together. All you have to do is add the ingredients to a pot, let them simmer for a little, and in 30 minutes you will have a wonderfully delicious soup. So if you’re getting hungry then let’s get to making our tom yum soup.

Tips, Tricks & Suggestions

  • Today we are going to be using chicken in our tom yum soup. However, if you want to be a little more traditional and use shrimp then feel free to do it. Just make sure to add the shrimp 6 minutes before you plan on eating, or else it can get overcooked.
  • Another popular Thai soup is tom kha which essential is tom yum with coconut milk added to it. If you want to turn this soup into tom kha then simply sub out 2 cups of the chicken broth with 2 cups of coconut milk, and omit the sugar.
  • Today I have decided to list all of the aromatic ingredients as optional. The reason for this is that red curry paste basically includes all of these ingredients in a cooked paste form. So while they aren’t necessary I do recommend using them as they will really give your tom tum a more pronounced flavor.
  • Once you’ve made this recipe a couple of times and figured what it should taste like, try and experiment with the type of veggies you add to it. Some of my favorite things to add in are sliced zucchini and sliced carrots.
  • I always recommend that you use homemade chicken broth when you make soup.

Tom Yum Soup Recipe

Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 to 30 minutes

Servings: 6 bowls

Ingredients

2 Quarts of chicken broth

1 Large chicken breast, cut into thin strips

2 Cups of mushrooms, sliced

1 Large white onion, cut into thick strips

2 Medium-sized tomatoes, cut into thick strips

2 Tablespoons of fish sauce

2 Teaspoons of sugar

1 Teaspoon of salt

2 Tablespoons of Thai red curry paste, or nam prik pao if you can find it

Juice from 4 limes

Optional aromatics:

1 Inch sized piece of ginger, sliced thin

2 Stocks of lemongrass, cut into inch-sized pieces

2 to 6 Thai chili peppers, sliced thin

4 Cloves of garlic, sliced thin

5 to 6 kaffir lime leaves, ripped into pieces

Garnish:

Cilantro, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Simmer stock with aromatics: Get out a large pot and pour the 2 quarts of chicken stock in it. Place this over medium-high heat and toss in any of the optional aromatics that you plan on using. Once it comes to a simmer cover the pot and let it all simmer for 20 minutes.Tom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (2)
  1. Add the chicken, mushrooms, and onion: After 20 minutes toss in the chicken, mushrooms, and onion. Cover the pot again and let everything simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.Tom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (3)
  1. Add the tomato along with the fish sauce, salt, sugar, red curry paste, and lime juice. Stir everything together and let this simmer for 2 more minutes.Tom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (4)
  1. Taste and adjust if needed: Taste the tom yum broth. If it is too salty or spicy then add a little more sugar to balance it out. If it’s too sour then add some more salt to balance it out.
  1. Serve and garnish with cilantroTom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (5)

Tom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (6)

Print Recipe

Tom Yum Soup Recipe

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 Quarts of chicken broth
  • 1 Large chicken breast cut into thin strips
  • 2 Cups of mushrooms sliced
  • 1 Large white onion cut into thick strips
  • 2 Medium-sized tomatoes cut into thick strips
  • 2 Tablespoons of fish sauce
  • 2 Teaspoons of sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon of salt
  • 2 Tablespoons of Thai red curry paste or nam prik pao if you can find it
  • Juice from 4 limes

Optional aromatics:

  • 1 Inch sized piece of ginger sliced thin
  • 2 Stocks of lemongrass cut into inch-sized pieces
  • 2 to 6 Thai chili peppers sliced thin
  • 4 Cloves of garlic sliced thin
  • 5 to 6 kaffir lime leaves ripped into pieces

Garnish:

  • Cilantro roughly chopped

Instructions

  • Simmer stock with aromatics: Get out a large pot and pour the 2 quarts of chicken stock in it. Place this over medium-high heat and toss in any of the optional aromatics that you plan on using. Once it comes to a simmer cover the pot and let it all simmer for 20 minutes.

  • Add the chicken, mushrooms, and onion: After 20 minutes toss in the chicken, mushrooms, and onion. Cover the pot again and let everything simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.

  • Add the tomato along with the fish sauce, salt, sugar, red curry paste, and lime juice. Stir everything together and let this simmer for 2 more minutes.

  • Taste and adjust if needed: Taste the tom yum broth. If it is too salty or spicy then add a little more sugar to balance it out. If it’s to sour then add some more salt to balance it out.

  • Serve and garnish with cilantro

Inspiration from other blogs

From Rasa Malaysia

From Eating Thai Food

Tom Yum Soup - Recipes - Home Cooks Classroom (2024)

FAQs

What does tom yum mean in Thai? ›

Originated in Thailand, this is sometimes called Tom Yam and is a soup that normally includes shrimp in a hot and sour serving. The words Tom Yam mean “boiling” or “hot” and “spicy and sour” which perfectly describes this soup. As a staple Thai dish, this famous Tom Yum Goong is served in Thai Square.

How healthy is tom yum soup? ›

Tom yum has fewer than 100 calories per cup. It also has shrimp, veggies, and fragrant spices, such as lemongrass. Tom yum and other broth-based soups, like tofu-vegetable or wonton, are usually lower in fat and calories than soups made with coconut milk, such as tom kha.

What are the different types of tom yum soup? ›

There are two different types of Tom Yum soup. The original Tom Yum is a clear soup called Tom Yum Nam Sai. The later version, which is commonly seen and widely adored, is a vibrant-coloured, richer and creamier soup called Tom Yum Nam Khon as it has roasted chilli paste, evaporated milk or coconut cream added to it.

What's the difference between Tom Kha and tom yum? ›

Tom Yum is much spicier, and has a clear broth. Tom Kha uses coconut milk to stabilize and mellow the flavors, making it both sweeter and slightly heavier. While both soups can be made with a variety of proteins, tom yum usually calls for shrimp, while tom kha is commonly made with chicken.

Why does Tom Yum taste so good? ›

For most varieties a paste called nam phrik phao (Thai: น้ำพริกเผา) is also added, made from shrimp, chilis, shallots, and garlic. This imparts sweet, salty, and spicy tastes. Yet other ingredients may also be used, depending on the exact variety of tom yam, such as evaporated milk.

Why is Tom Yum so good? ›

The combination of spicy, sour, and savory flavors creates a taste explosion that is unlike any other soup. This makes it a perfect dish for those who crave bold and adventurous flavors. Health Benefits: Tom Yum soup is made with a variety of fresh herbs and spices that are known for their health benefits.

Can diabetics eat Thai food? ›

A small portion of pad thai is fine for the person with diabetes, but leave at least half the serving for another day. Thai food is so nutritious that there is little about it to warn the person with diabetes. As always, avoid large portions and too much rice. And be careful of the hot spices.

Is Tom Yum soup anti inflammatory? ›

Chili Peppers are used to add spiciness to the Thai hot and sour soup. It provides health benefits, such as dealing with inflammation and congestion problems. As they are rich in Vitamin A, they are also used to improve immunity.

Is Tom Yum soup good for your stomach? ›

Most Thai soups do not contain harsh ingredients, which can be rough on the gut. An example is Tom Yum, a famous Thai soup served in most Thai restaurants. It is made up of simple ingredients that are not only easy to make, but also tasty and friendly to the gut.

What to pair with Tom Yum soup? ›

Serve tom yum soup as is for a flavorful appetizer or with steamed white rice or sticky rice as a main dish. You can either place some rice in a bowl and serve the soup on top or serve the rice on the side.

What is the difference between white and red tom yum? ›

There are mainly two types of tom yum soup – the clear one and the red, milky one. I personally prefer the latter because the addition of nam prik pao (Thai roasted chilli paste) and coconut milk lends the soup a richer and more savoury flavour.

Is Tom Yum soup good for cough? ›

Tom yum soup has a wide variety of herbs and spices which work synergistically to make you feel better. This includes: Lemongrass: an herb that is high in vitamins A and B, fights inflammation, and can relieve a cough or upset stomach. It is good for fever, headache, and muscle pains.

What is the best Thai soup? ›

Tom Yum soup is the most popular Thai soup. In Thai, “tom” translates into “boiled” and “yum” refers to the traditional sour, salty and spicy flavor found in lots of Thai dishes.

What does Tom mean in Thai? ›

The Thai word for “boil” or tom (pronounced “dtome”) features prominently on Thai menus and tom yum goong is probably one of the most famous Thai dishes in the world.

What is the tom yum Flavour? ›

Featuring all four of the famous Thai spices – salty, sour, sweet and spicy, the soup originates from Central Thailand and is a blend of fragrant lemongrass, chilli, galangal, lime leaves, shallots, lime juice and fish sauce shapes this classic soup, giving it its legendary herbal kick.

Why is tom yum important to Thailand? ›

From its origins as a royal delicacy to its regional variations that showcase the diverse flavors of different areas, Tom Yum Goong encapsulates the essence of Thai cuisine. With its unique balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, Tom Yum Goong tantalizes the taste buds and leaves a lasting impression.

What does yam mean in Thai? ›

Yam (ยำ, Thai pronunciation: [jām]) literally means "mix," but in Thai cuisine, it usually refers to a type of salad-like dishes in the culinary repertoire of Thailand.

What does Yum Yum mean in English slang? ›

interjection. (used to express enjoyment or satisfaction, especially in the taste of food.)

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