Tom Yum Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 cups water
1 cup mushroom (oyster or straw would work well)
1 -2 lime
1 stalk lemongrass
3 kaffir lime leaves (if you can't find leaves, substitute with zest from 3 limes)
2 tablespoons fish sauce
5 sprigs fresh cilantro
2 -3 chili peppers (or use chili sauce to taste)

Preparation

Wash mushrooms and set aside.
Crush lemongrass with back of knife to release flavor. Tie in a knot and drop into pot of water.
Bring water to a boil.
Add mushrooms.
Pull kaffir lime leaves from their stems and place in water. If using lime zest instead, add it.
Turn off heat on stove.
Crush chili peppers and place into a serving bowl. This will make the dish very spicy. If you don't want as much heat, don't crush the peppers, or only crush one. (If you prefer, omit the peppers entirely and use bottled chili sauce).
Add fish sauce and juice from limes into bowl.
Pour lemongrass broth into serving bowl.
Taste, adjust fish sauce and lime if needed.
Serve, sprinkled with cilantro.