Thai Hot and Spicy Broth (Gaeng Prik)

The Washington Post, November 3, 1993

• • Cuisine: Asian
• • Course: Soup

Summary:

This soup is a great beginning to a Thai meal. It's also the perfect foil for a bowl of jasmine or basmati rice as a light but very satisfying dinner. It's very hot, so if you want something a little tamer, use half the number of chili peppers called for here and then adjust the hotness upward to suit by adding cayenne pepper a little at a time.

You can make this soup 20 minutes in advance, or up to 3 days ahead if you keep it refrigerated.

Asian ingredients are available at specialty markets and, increasingly, at most supermarkets.

6 servings

Ingredients:

• • 6 cups chicken or pork broth
• • 3 small red Thai chilies (or 4 jalapeño chilies), seeded and chopped, or fewer to taste
• • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• • 2 shallots, chopped
• • 1/4 -inch slice galangal or ginger root
• • 4 kaffir lime leaves, cut into very thin shreds
• • 6 -inches length of lemon grass, finely sliced
• • 3 tablespoons tamarind paste, dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water, strained (or substitute juice of 2 limes)
• • 1/4 cup Thai fish sauce, or more to taste
• • 10 grinds white pepper
• • Cayenne pepper, if needed
• • 1 scallion, finely chopped, both green and white parts
• • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
• • 1/2 cup coconut milk (optional)

Directions:

In a 4-quart pot, simmer the broth with the chili peppers, garlic, shallots, galangal, lime leaves and lemon grass for 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 2 minutes more.

Suggestion and variations: Although this broth is great to drink alone, it also makes a perfect backdrop for fish, shellfish and meats. Just toss in cubes or strips of fish, chicken or pork, or pieces of whole shellfish such as shrimp or scallops, 5 to 10 minutes before serving. I sometimes cook basmati or jasmine rice directly in the soup to make it substantial enough for a light meal.

Recipe Source:

From "Splendid Soups," by James Peterson (Bantam Books, 1993).

71 calories, 2g fat, n/a saturated fat, n/a cholesterol, 1196mg sodium, 10g carbohydrates, 1g dietary fiber, n/a sugar, 6g protein.