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Tomyum Goong
Spicy Prawn Soup
โ€Tomyumโ€ is a type of hot soup, mixing various ingredients in boiling water, such as
pound coriander roots, pound lemongrass sticks, torn kaffir leaves and meat such as prawn, fish
and chicken, seasoned with lime juice, fish sauce and birdโ€s eye chillies.
โ€Tomyum Goongโ€ is a Thai dish of the central region that only became popular 50 years
ago. The oldest recipe, in King Rama 5โ€s reign, stated that only climbing perch, snake-head fish
and stingray are used in โ€Tomyum Plaโ€ (spicy fish soup)
The oldest note regarding โ€Tomyum Goongโ€ is the book entitled โ€Savoeyโ€ (edibles) in
1964, by MR Kitinadda Kitiyakara. This dish was named โ€Tomyum Goong Sodโ€ (spicy fresh prawn
soup). Sea prawns were used instead of river prawns to make it a Royal dish at a Royal dinner on
2 April 1962 at Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin.
There are 2 types of โ€Tomyum Goongโ€: clear soup or thick soup. The clear soup is the
original one, not adding in the coconut milk. However, coconut milk is added in the thick soup.
Fresh ingredients are shallots, garlic and dried chillies which are to be grilled first.
โ€Tomyum Goongโ€ can be seasoned according to the consumerโ€s preferred tastes. It is an extremely
popular dish. If there is little meat, straw mushrooms can be added in to increase protein,
sprinkling coriander and dill on top. If lime is not in season, tamarind squeeze, bilimbi and garcinia
can be used instead so that sourness is felt more than saltiness and spiciness.
Presently, โ€Tomyum Goongโ€ is a Thai national soup, very popular among foreigners. It has
high nutritional values and is not so spicy hot. Its fragrance derives from vegetables and spices
that help blood circulation, bringing about good health.
โ€Tomyum Goongโ€ has been registered as Thai Cultural Heritage in 2011.
Reference :
MR Kitinadda Kitiyakara, 1964, Savoey, Bangkok, Aksorn Sumpan Press
90 เธญเธฒเธซเธฒเธฃเนเธ—เธข เธกเธฃเธ”เธเธ เธกเธน เธเธด เธฑเธเธเธฒเธ—เธฒเธเธงเธ’เธฑ เธเธเธฃเธฃเธก
Thai Food : Thai Cultural Heritage ๆณฐๅผๆ–็-ไผ ็ป้ฅฎ้ฃๆ–ๅ–้—ไบง