Hot and Sour Soup (another recipe)

[Guest guest]

this is a really good one.....the seasoning paste is

amazing. i'm sure you could make it in a blender or

food processor if you don't have a mortar and pestle.

don't forget to take out the lemongrass before

serving.

 

Hot and Sour Soup

 

2 cloves garlic, sliced

1 shallot, sliced

1 teaspoon ground chili paste

1 fresh red chili, any kind (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/3 pound tofu, cut into cubes

5 cups vegetable stock

1 stalk lemongrass, cut into 1-inch pieces and bruised

with the back of a knife

3 thin slices galanga

3 kaffir lime leaves, cut into thirds

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 cup canned straw mushrooms or sliced white

mushrooms

2 red ripe tomatoes, cut into thin wedges

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

10 fresh Thai basil leaves

5 fresh cilantro springs, chopped

 

Place the garlic, shallot, chili paste, chili,

cilantro, and peppercorns into a mortar and pound into

a paste.

 

Heat the oil in a soup pot over moderate heat. Add the

spice mixture to the pot an stir until fragrant, about

2 seconds. Add the vegetable stock and let simmer 5

minutes. Add the lemongrass, galanga, lime leaves,

soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms, and tomatoes and

bring to a boil. Add the tofu and cook for about 2

more minutes. Remove from heat and add the lime

juice, basil, and cilantro. Serve piping hot.

 

Adapted from a recipe found in: The Best of

Vietnamese and Thai Cooking by Mai Pham (Prima

Publishing, 1995).