Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb medium raw shrimp
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 2 stalks lemon grass - cut into 2 inch then crushed
• 1/2 lime peel
• 1 serranor or jalepeno chilli (cut in half)
• 1/2 can of straw mushroom
• 2 1/2 fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 green onions - thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp cilantro - chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp mint leaves - chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger - minched
• 1 Serrano or jelapeno chilli - seeded and slivered

Ingredients for garnish

• Shell the shrimp, rinse the shells and pat them dry
• De-vein the shrimp under cold running water, cut shrimps in halves horizontally
• Place a large pot over high heat until boiling hot
• Add the oil, swirling to coat the surface
• Add the shrimp shells; cook until they turn pink, about 30 seconds
• A dd the brooth, lemon grass, lime peel, and chilli
• Bring to a boil over high heat
• Reduce the heat to medioum-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes
• Strain the broth, discarding the seasonings
• Return the broth to the pot and heat to simmering
• Add the shrimp and straw mushrooms and cook until the shrimp turn pink, about 2 minutes
• Stir in the lime juice and fish sauce

• Laddle soup into attractive individual bowls
• Garnish with green onions, cilantro, mint leaves and chilli

This dish is excellent as an appetizer. If you prefer the soup to be spicer, simply add more chilli.