Tom Yum Soup
Image: allrecipes.com
A Phillipsburg High School graduate who competed on the wrestling team, Andrew Horun resides in New Jersey. His sports activities include coaching wrestling and soccer, and he stays in shape through workouts at MADE Strength & Conditioning. Also a culinary enthusiast, Andrew Horun grew up eating a variety of traditional Eastern European foods, including pierogis and halushki and has recently become a fan of Thai cuisine.
One of the most complex Thai flavor profiles is contained within Tom Yum soup, which can be served with prawns or chicken and features an unusual blend of ingredients and spices. The traditional recipe calls for chicken broth to be combined with a number of fresh ingredients not meant to be eaten.
These include galangal, ginger, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass. Chili peppers or nam prik pao (roasted chili paste) can be added to taste. In addition, many cooks add mushrooms and a dash of nam pla, a common Thai fish sauce.
The soup can be either clear or employ a touch of canned evaporated milk, to create a richer taste. With the addition of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes and onions, the soup is created through a straightforward process of bringing to a boil and simmering until just the right taste is achieved.
