Tom Yum Goong
Hot-and-sour shrimp soup
Ingredients
- 400 g Shrimp
- 2 Lemongrass
- 1 Galangal
- 6 Kaffir lime leaves
- 150 g Button mushrooms
- 4 Thai chilies
- 3 tbsp Fish sauce
- 2 Lime
- 1200 ml Chicken stock
- 3 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Bruise the lemongrass and galangal by smashing them with the flat of a knife to release their aromatics.
- Bring the chicken stock to a simmer in a pot with the lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai chilies and let it infuse over low heat.
- While the stock infuses, peel and devein the shrimp and halve the mushrooms.
- Add the mushrooms and shrimp to the broth and cook until the shrimp are just pink and curled.
- Take the pot off the heat. Juice the limes, then season with the fish sauce and the lime juice so it tastes sour first, then salty.
- Ladle into bowls, scatter the cilantro over, and serve hot.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Tom Yum Goong
Tom yum goong is arguably Thailand's most famous soup, a hot-and-sour shrimp broth that hits every corner of the palate at once. Goong means shrimp, and the version made with them is the classic; the soup is defined by the tension between fiery Thai chilies, sour lime, salty fish sauce, and the perfumed aromatics of lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves. Unlike its coconut cousin tom kha, this is a clear broth, so the flavors land sharp and immediate rather than mellowed by cream. Each spoonful is bracing, tart, and hot, with plump shrimp and mushrooms giving it body.
The seasoning order is where this recipe shows its craft: the instruction to taste for sour first, then salty, mirrors how Thai cooks build the soup, layering lime and fish sauce until the balance sings. Bruising the lemongrass and galangal and steeping them before anything else goes in extracts maximum aroma, and the shrimp are added only long enough to turn pink and curl so they stay tender. Light, high in protein, and low in calories, it makes a satisfying starter or a full light meal, best served hot with rice to temper the heat.
Tom Yum Goong: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Tom Yum Goong?
A serving has about 234 calories — 30.2g protein, 18.7g carbs, 4.5g fat, 1.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 30.2g of protein, roughly 52% of its calories.
Is Tom Yum Goong gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Tom Yum Goong has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Tom Yum Goong take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 14 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Tom Yum Goong?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cilantro — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Tom Yum Goong make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.