Hot And Sour Fish Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 quarts water or 1 1/2 quarts mild soup stock, salted with
fish sauce, to the desired saltiness
1 lb trout (pan fried)
4 -5 stalks fresh lemongrass (dta-krai)
8 thin slices fresh ginger (kha)
4 -6 kaffir lime leaves, torn (bai ma-gkrood)
15 -20 whole Thai chiles, stem removed and bruised with the back of a cleaver (prik kee noo)
1 small shallot, quartered and sliced crosswise 1/4-inch thick
2 -3 tablespoons roasted chili paste (nahm prk pow)
1 tablespoon tamarind pulp, mixed with 1/2 cup of hot water, pulp removed (the tamarind is sold in blocks, use about 1 Tbs.)
2 cups fresh brown button mushrooms, sliced in 1/4-inch pieces
2 small firm tomatoes, cut in small wedges (optional)
4 green onions, cut in thin rounds
2 -3 limes, juice of, to desired sourness
1/2 - 1 cup cilantro leaf

Preparation

Cut the bottom tip off the lemon grass stalks and discard the loose outer layer(s). Then cut the stalks an inch apart at a slanted angle all the way up to the greener end where the grass blades start, exposing the inner core.
Smnash each piece with the side of a cleaver, or the end of a heavy handle to bruise, releasing the aromatic oils.
Place the cut lemon grass along with the sliced ginger, kaffir lime leaves, and about 2 quarts of waqter in a soup pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer with a lid on for about 20-30 minutes to draw out flavors. Strain.
Add the bruised whole Thai chillies (or substitute0 and a slicd onion. Simmer a couple of minutes.
Add roasted chilli paste, tamarind jui9ce, and fresh brown mushrooms.
Return to a boil and simmer a couple more minutes.
Stir in the tomato wedges (if using), green onions and fish.
After 15-30 seconds, turn off heat, add lime juce to the desired sourness and the cilantro. Serve immediately. Do not let the fish overcook.