Creamy Thai Tom Yum Pasta

A fusion of Italian pasta and bold Thai flavors featuring spaghetti coated in a rich, creamy Tom Yum sauce infused with aromatic lemongrass, galangal, and succulent prawns.

Ingredients

• 200 g spaghetti
• 10 prawns
• 1 tbsp Tom Yum paste
• 50 ml coconut milk
• 1 lime
• 1 mushrooms
• 1 tomatoes
• 1 stalk lemongrass
• 20 g galangal
• 2 shallots
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 birds eye chili
• 10 g coriander roots
• 15 g coriander
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 250 ml water

Instructions

1. 1Boil the pasta

   

   Boil water, add 1 spoonful of salt, and cook the pasta for 10 minutes, then drain and set aside.

   Tip: Make sure the water is at a rolling boil before adding the pasta.
2. 2Prepare the prawns

   

   Leave two whole prawns, peel and devein the rest, keeping the prawn heads and shells for later use.

   Tip: Keep the prawn heads and shells as they will be used to build a rich flavor base for the soup.
3. 3Fry the prawns

   

   Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the peeled prawns along with the two whole prawns. Fry them until they are completely cooked and turn a vibrant pink color, then remove them from the pan and set aside.

   Tip: Avoid overcooking the prawns at this stage to keep them tender, as they will be mixed back into the hot pasta later.
4. 4Sauté the prawn shells

   

   In the same pan with the remaining oil, add the reserved prawn heads and shells. Stir-fry them over medium-low heat until they turn bright red and release their rich, aromatic oils into the pan.

   Tip: Press down gently on the prawn heads with your spatula to extract maximum flavor and color into the oil.
5. 5Add the aromatics

   

   Pour all the prepared aromatics, including coriander roots, lemongrass, galangal, minced garlic, diced shallots, and birds eye chili, into the pan with the shells. Stir in one tablespoon of Tom Yum paste and continue to stir-fry over low heat until highly fragrant.

   Tip: Keep the heat on low when sautéing the aromatics and chili paste to prevent them from burning and becoming bitter.
6. 6Simmer the soup base

   

   Pour 250ml of water directly into the pan with the aromatic prawn base. Turn the heat up to bring the liquid to a steady boil, allowing the flavors from the shells and aromatics to fully infuse into the broth.

   Tip: Let the mixture boil steadily for a few minutes to ensure all the rich flavors from the ingredients are fully extracted into the water.
7. 7Strain the soup liquid

   

   Pour the simmered soup mixture from the pan through a fine mesh sieve placed over a measuring cup or container. Press gently to extract all the flavorful broth while separating the solid aromatics and ingredients.

   Tip: Make sure to use a heat-resistant container and sieve when straining hot liquids.
8. 8Add tomatoes and mushrooms

   

   Pour the strained soup liquid back into the pan, then add the prepared diced tomatoes and chopped mushrooms. Stir well to combine all the ingredients into the broth.

   Tip: Adding the vegetables after straining keeps the soup smooth while retaining fresh vegetable textures.
9. 9Season the soup

   

   Add 1 spoonful of fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and half a teaspoon of salt directly into the pan with the soup and vegetables. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and simmer over low heat for 2 minutes.

   Tip: Adjust the fish sauce and sugar to balance the savory, sweet, and sour flavor profile.
10. 10Add coconut milk and lime juice

    

    Pour 50ml of coconut milk into the gently simmering soup base, squeeze in the juice of one lime, and stir well to combine into a creamy sauce.

    Tip: Add the coconut milk and lime juice near the end to prevent the coconut milk from curdling and to keep the citrus aroma fresh.
11. 11Combine and serve

    

    Add the cooked pasta, fried prawns, and fresh coriander into the pan. Toss quickly to coat the noodles evenly in the sauce, then plate and serve immediately.

    Tip: Mix quickly to ensure the noodles absorb the rich Tom Yum flavors evenly without overcooking.

Storage & Reheating

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Frequently Asked Questions