What is Tom Yum and how to eat it properly with rice?

Tom Yum is a Thai soup known for its many spicy spices. It is considered a traditional treat in different parts of Asia. It is also prepared in Russia. There are many recipes. Each chef always brings his own flavor to the composition, making the soup more rich, spicy or spicy. Trying the dish for the first time, many are interested in how to eat Tom Yum with rice properly.

What is Tom Yum

This soup is as popular in Asia as borscht. It is traditionally prepared for the arrival of guests, for holidays or just for a family dinner.

The history of Tom Yam goes back to the 16th century in Burma. Historians have not been able to find the author of the dish, but it quickly gained popularity. It began to be cooked in Laos, and then the soup caught on in Thailand.

In translation, "tom yam" means "to boil a spicy mixture". Indeed, the dish is spicy, as it contains a lot of spices not only spicy. It became very popular during World War II. The thing is that with a small amount of food, it helps replenish the body with energy and is characterized by high nutritional properties due to the rice.

The recipe for Tom Yum is constantly being updated. Each chef considers it his duty to bring something special to it, to make it more intense, spicy and tasty. Thus, several variants of the dish appeared: with mushrooms, fish, vegetables.

Types

Depending on the region, different recipes are used. Thus, Tom yam is prepared from those products that are on hand and more common in a particular area. The main types are:

1. Kung. It is the one that has spread around the world. It is prepared with shrimp and lots of hot peppers.
2. Pla. The main component is fish. In this case, put the types of fish that are more accessible in a particular region.
3. Kha. It is slightly spicy, because the minimum amount of spices and herbs are used. Cook it with chicken without seafood.
4. Thale. Outside of Thailand is a more common type of tom yam. It is prepared with a variety of seafood. Also add hot spices and seasonings.

There are more than 1000 recipes for this dish. This is due to the fact that the soup is prepared differently in each region, using more available products. Many substitute individual ingredients, adapting it to local tastes and traditions. In Europe, the dish is not as spicy and has a sweeter taste.

Why Tom Yum is served with rice

Tom Yum is served mostly with rice. It makes it a heartier dish because it includes vegetables and spices. Thanks to this rice, one portion is enough to fill you up. In addition, the rice reduces the spiciness of the dish.

This is interesting! In Thailand it is believed that the cook and the establishment, deserve respect if the soup contains a sufficient amount of rice.

How to eat Tom Yum with rice

In any place in Thailand where Tom Yum is served, the waiter brings several cutlery, which raises a lot of questions for most tourists. You have to learn how to eat the soup properly, and it is not difficult to do.

Rules and features

In Asia, as in any country, there are rules of conduct at the table. The Thais use a knife very rarely. The food is usually served cut into small pieces. Therefore there is no need to cut it.

They always hold a fork in the left hand and the spoon is on the right side. The portions are usually not large. A spoon and fork will be enough for each visitor of the restaurant.

It is noteworthy that in Thailand Tom Yum soup is eaten as an accompaniment to rice. Therefore, when ordering this dish, you need to ask the waiter to serve rice as well. The dish is served in a deep plate with various roots and herbs. They are not eaten but used as a decoration. Pieces of seafood and vegetables are eaten with chopsticks, and broth is drunk with a special spoon.

What utensils to use

Tom Yum soup is served with several utensils at once, so many people get lost. Serve the dish in a deep and wide bowl, which tapers at the bottom. The table is also served with the following utensils:

1. Spoon. It is slightly different from the usual, as it is deeper. It is intended for broth and small pieces.
2. Scoop. Can be ceramic or plastic. Great for shrimp and large pieces.
3. Chopsticks. In some regions, sticks are also served. With them you eat large or small pieces.

You can eat Tom Yum with any suggested cutlery or a combination of them. There are no strict rules of etiquette. Besides, not everyone is comfortable using chopsticks or a scoop.

Where to put the leftovers during the meal

The soup includes seafood, including shrimp. In many places, in addition, the dish is served garnished with various twigs and sticks. There is no need to eat them, and so many people have the question of where to put the leftovers: roots, twigs, shrimp shells.

First of all, it is important to know that you should not put them on the table or a napkin. This is a sign of bad manners and disrespect for chefs, waiters. The resulting garbage is neatly removed under the bowl, on a wide plate.

Is it worth eating bamboo shoots?

Bamboo stems are often added to soup. This not only adds a special flavor to the dish, but also serves as decoration. Before adding them to the soup, the cook cuts them into pieces, which are about 3 cm long and 5 to 10 mm in diameter. Bamboo shoots are characterized by sharp edges, very tough.

Opinions are divided as to whether they are worth eating or not. Many believe that they are very useful and rich in vitamins. Others believe that they should not be eaten, as they are present in the soup only for the sake of giving the dish a special zest.

So whether or not to eat bamboo shoots in Tom Yama is up to each individual. Some people like to crack them because of the crunch. But this should be done with caution, as the pieces have sharp edges.

How to cook Tom Yum soup at home

There are many recipes for cooking Tom Yam. The classic version contains products that are difficult to find in Russia, but they can be substituted. To prepare the popular Tom Yam at home, you will need:

• 500 ml of chicken broth;
• 1 stick of lemongrass (lemon or lime zest);
• A piece of galangala, 1 cm thick (ginger root in the same volume);
• 100 г shiitake;
• 100 ml coconut milk or cream;
• 100 g of king or tiger shrimp;
• 3 kaffir leaves;
• 1 chili pepper;
• 2 tbsp. lime juice;
• 1 tsp. fish sauce;
• 1 tomato;
• 1 tsp. chili paste;
• shallots or onions.

Various herbs will be needed as well. The classic version is to use cilantro and green onion. If desired, you can add other types of greens to taste.

The first thing to do is to boil the chicken broth. Once it is ready, take the chicken out, put the lemongrass stick, ginger and kaffir leaves into the pot. Bring everything to a boil, turn down the heat to minimum. The soup should come to a slight boil.

Cook the broth for 5-8 minutes. This will allow the spices to give all their flavor and aroma. Then take out the seasonings. They are no longer needed. But they can be left to decorate the dish before serving.

In the broth, add chili paste, pre-cleaned shrimp and cut into small pieces shiitake. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes after boiling. Add fish sauce and lime juice and bring back to the boil. Also simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.

Dilute the soup with cream or coconut oil. They will reduce the spiciness of the dish. Before serving, add pre-cooked rice, slices of tomato, rings of onion to the soup. Serve it in a deep bowl, sprinkled with herbs.

This is a classic recipe, on the basis of which you can create your own version of cooking Tom Yam.

Spicy chili paste is only available in specialty stores. It is not always possible to buy it, but you can make it yourself. You will need:

• 4 Tbsp. vegetable oil;
• 4 pcs. chili peppers;
• 5 garlic cloves;
• 1 shallot;
• ginger to taste.

Slice the garlic thinly and fry in vegetable oil until golden. Place the garlic in a bowl.

Peel the peppers, finely chop them and fry for a minute. Then add onion, grated ginger and roasted garlic. Stir everything thoroughly and simmer.

After the mixture has cooled a little, it is ground with a blender until smooth. If the paste is very thick, it can be diluted with a little vegetable oil.

Only a small amount of chili paste is added to the tom yum soup. The chili paste is very spicy and cream or coconut milk can help relieve it. In addition, this pasta is an excellent accompaniment to meat dishes.

Tom Yam is a classic of Thai cuisine. Served in almost every establishment and everywhere it is different. It is prepared with seafood or with the addition of a large number of vegetables. In any case, the soup is distinctive for its bright flavor, aroma and spiciness. More often it is served with rice. In this way the dish becomes more filling and delicious.

Those who try Tom Yum for the first time, wonder how to eat it properly, because the table is served with utensils not familiar to the Russian people. Learning to eat soup is not difficult. It is enough to follow a few simple guidelines. There are no strict rules of etiquette. But in any case at the table you need to behave carefully, putting the leftovers not on the napkin or table, but under the bowl, on a wide plate.

Photo of Tom Yum soup