Thai Hot and Sour Soup

Chilly days call for soup and this delicious recipe can be in your bowl in 20 minutes. Its mix of shallots, ginger, garlic, lemon grass, and galangal are great if you are fighting off a cold or flu. Make the broth and leave out the tofu and mushrooms if you or your loved ones are suffering from nausea – relief in a steaming cup.

If you have never cooked with galangal you’re in for a subtle treat. It lends a mild flavor reminiscent of ginger – used together you achieve a nice complexity. Here’s an article about galangal’s medicinal uses:

https://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/galangal.html

Hot and Sour Soup

Serves 4

Prep time 10 minutes  Cooking time 10 minutes Total 20 minutes

Ladle over with cooked white rice or noodles

Sauté on medium heat in 2 Tbsp. neutral oil such as grapeseed:

1 medium shallot, minced

1 inch fresh ginger, minced

1 lemon grass frond, peeled to the tender inner core and minced, or 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Thai chili, diced

When shallots are translucent add:

1 clove garlic, finely minced or crushed

Sauté 30 seconds then add:

3 cups chicken broth (I use organic Better Than Bouillon, purchased at Costco or try betterthanbouillon.com) or for a vegan version, water seasoned with:

1 Tbsp. soy sauce + ¼ tsp. each of onion powder and garlic powder

1 piece of dried galangal root (available at Asian markets)

Bring to a gentle boil and add:

¾ pound firm or extra firm tofu, in ½ inch cubes

6 to 8 shitake mushrooms, diced in ¼ inch pieces, or 1 can, drained, straw mushrooms

Lower heat and simmer 7 minutes

Add 1 can regular coconut milk (Lite coconut milk never enters my kitchen)

Bring up to a low boil, add:

1/4 cup sliced green onion tops

1 Tbsp. chili oil

1 Tbsp. fish sauce (available in Asian stores) or for vegan version, click on this link for a good substitute: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6610-making-a-vegetarian-substitute-for-fish-sauce

Variation: Add a cup or two of cooked shrimp with the chili oil and fish sauce

Remove from heat – Enjoy!