Step 1

Firstly rinse and slice or chop all the veggies. Also, peel and finely chop garlic.

Step 2

Then rinse the lemon grass stalks and remove the outer first or two layers. These layers are stiff and hard layers. discard them or you can add them in your tea or any veg stock that you make.

Step 3

Smash it lightly with a knife and then slice the lemon grass. Do note that if you do not have lemon grass stalks, then you can use 1 long lemon grass leaf. Just tie it around itself and then add in the soup.

Step 4

Peel 1.5 inch galangal and slice thinly. Galangal is rough and not easy to slice, so some pressure is required while slicing.

Step 5

Take 6 small thai chilies and smash each one lightly. Thai chilies can be added less or more as per your choice.

Step 6

Now slice the chilies diagonally in large pieces.

Step 7

Heat oil in a pan. Add 2 tablespoons sliced shallots and ½ teaspoon finely chopped garlic.

Step 8

Saute for a minute on low to low-medium flame.

Step 9

Add the chopped veggies and sliced mushrooms. You can add your choice of mix veggies to the soup.

Step 10

Mix well and saute for a minute.

Step 11

Then add 3 cups water. You can also use homemade veg stock.

Step 12

Now add the sliced lemon grass stalks, galangal and thai chilies.

Step 13

Tear 3 to 4 kaffir lime leaves and then add them.

Step 14

Season with salt as per requirement and mix well. Do add less salt as we will also be adding soy sauce later.

Step 15

Cover the pan with lid and simmer on low to medium flame till veggies are done.

Step 16

Do check at intervals when the veggies are being cooked.

Step 17

Cook till the veggies are tender and cooked well.

Step 18

Then add ½ teaspoon sugar. You can even use palm sugar or jaggery or coconut sugar.

Step 19

Add 1 teaspoon soy sauce.

Step 20

Mix very well and simmer tom yum soup for a minute.

Step 21

Switch off flame and then add 2 tablespoons lemon juice. For a less sour taste, you can add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

Step 22

Lastly add 2 to 3 tablespoons coriander leaves. Stir and check the seasonings. If required you can add more salt, lemon juice or soy sauce or sugar.

Step 23

While serving thai tom yum soup remove the lemon grass stalks, red chilies, kaffir lime leaves and galangal. These cannot be chewed as they are stringy and dense. So do make sure not to finely slice or chop them.

Step 24

Serve tom yum soup hot.