Wat is tom yam soup make of?

How to make good tom kah soup?

• I love tom kah soup from thai restaurants and I improvised a version yesterday like this: one can coconut milk, one can water, 1/4 cup tom yum paste, boiled with tomatoes, mushrooms, tofu, onion, and fresh cilantro. It was pretty good, but I want to know if anyone knows of a more authentic way to make it? Also, does anyone know how to make the tom yum paste from scratch rather than buying it in a jar?

• Answer:

  Tom Kha Gai This a quick and easy Thai classic that is full of amazing flavors. Serve with some white rice. A meal in itself. 1 can (14 oz.) coconut milk 1 can (14 oz.) chicken broth 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 4 chopped scallions. 1 tbsp finely chopped lemon grass. (I find this frozen in my local Asian market). 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp 1 cup sliced shitake mushrooms 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp Thai chili paste 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves 1/4 cup fresh cilantro In a medium saucepan, combine coconut milk, broth, ginger, scallions, and lemongrass and bring to boil over high heat. Add shrimp, mushrooms, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili paste. Reduce heat and simmer until shrimp is firm and opaque, about five minutes. Ladle into bowls and garnish with basil and cilantro.