Thai Prawns And Squid Hot Soup (Tom Yum Kung Lae Pia Muk) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 lb squid
5 cups stock
3 fresh lime leaves
1 stalk lemongrass, crushed
1/2 lb shrimp, shelled and deveined
nam pla, to taste
2 -4 fresh chili peppers, sliced into rounds
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 limes, juice of (to taste) or 1 lemon, juice of (to taste)
chopped coriander leaves, to garnish

Preparation

Clean the squid, cut off and chop the tentacles, then cut the body into rings.
Put the stock, lime leaves and lemon grass in a pan, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the prawns (shrimp), squid and nam pla. Cook until the prawns have turned pink, then add the chilies.
Pour the soup into 4 warmed individual bowls. Mix together the garlic and lime or lemon juice to taste, then stir into the soup. Sprinkle with coriander. Serve hot. Serves 4.
NOTE: Nam pla is Thailand fish sauce.
Lemon grass, fresh lemon grass is available from Asian stores. The lower third of the stalk, the bulb like portion, is the part to use when a recipe specifies 'chopped or sliced lemon grass'. Alternatively, the whole stalk may be bruised and added during cooking, but then it should be removed before serving. Dried lemon grass is a good substitute:--Soak in hot water for about 2 hours before using then remove from the dish before serving. 1 Tablespoon dried lemon grass is roughly equivalent to 1 stalk fresh. Powdered lemon grass is also available.
Lime leaves, fresh lime leaves are preferred, but virtually unobtainable in the West. Dried lime leaves are available from Asian stores.
Asian Cooking.