Soup You Sir

Recently I don't know why exactly, maybe its winter carrying on so long but I have become interested in soup. I was so excited to find this fascinating and comprehensive soup list on Wikipedia. I decided to make it a sort of a project. I love to travel (despite its price and carbon footprint) but one can't always be on the road. In fact much of my year is actually spent here in silly old England and well sometimes one needs something to sink your teeth into (pardon the pun). So hence the idea.

For 12 months, 12 different soups from different countries of the world. I will make an attempt of learning something about the country and learning how to make the soup. I roped Stephen into assisting me. In fact the first month February, Stephen took right over and we went with:


Thailand and Tom Yum Soup.

We even wore yellow! Stephens been to Thailand before so was a great chef and I learned a thing or two! I made dumplings to go with it which was nice but I think the soup would have suited noodles better.  

Apologies for rubbish photography. Still getting to grips with new phone camera. 

Tom Yum Soup Recipe

I can only dream of (because I've never been there) the bustling canals full of boats and smells and rooftops casting shade over many canoes shuffling up and down the river and in the air there are many smells smoked into my nostrils. Then suddenly one smell hits and lingers. Its gingery and lime and chilli and the fresh prawns of Tom Yum soup!

Lemon Grass

Lime Leaves

Galangal Ginger

Lime juice

Fish Sauce

Chilli paste

Coriander

Prawns

Chicken stock

(Ingredients easy to source from a market and a Chinese food shop)

Begin by creating a chicken stock, either from fresh chicken (delicious and salty) or chicken cubes. You want a good amount of stock as your base for your soup. 

Next smash the lemon grass and thinly slice the ginger and add. Crumple the lime leaves and add. Separately mix up your freshly squeezed lime juice and your chilli paste and add a good dash of fish sauce. Once well mixed add to soup. Add prawns and a dash of chopped coriander and once prawns are pink serve with another fresh dash of coriander.

good with noodles!