Spicy Vietnamese Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp
This vibrant and aromatic Vietnamese Hot and Sour Soup features a harmonious blend of spicy, sour, and savory flavors. The fragrant broth is enriched with tender shrimp, earthy shiitake mushrooms, and the bright notes of lemongrass and lime juice. Topped with fresh herbs and spicy jalapeños, this dish is a perfect balance of comfort and excitement. It's easy to prepare and makes for a delightful centerpiece in a cozy dinner or a refreshing bowl on a warm day. Enjoy this soup as an appetizer or a light meal, and feel free to customize the garnishes to suit your taste.
4
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
Rice noodles
4 ounces (cooked, rinsed and drained as directed on the package)
Chicken broth or Vegetable broth
5 cups
Lemongrass
2 stalks (crushed and thinly sliced diagonally (use only bottom third to half of the stalk))
Shiitake mushrooms
1 cup (sliced (or button mushrooms))
Onion
1/2 cup (thinly sliced)
Medium shrimp
1/2 lb (cleaned and deveined)
Fish sauce
1 tablespoon ((or slightly more to taste))
Fresh lime juice
2 1/2 tablespoons
Fresh bean sprouts
1 cup (trimmed and rinsed)
Green onions
2 (thinly sliced)
Fresh jalapeño chilies
2 (seeded and thinly sliced)
Fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons (roughly chopped)
Fresh basil
2 tablespoons (roughly chopped)
Instructions
1
In a large pot, combine the chicken or vegetable broth, crushed lemongrass, sliced mushrooms, and thinly sliced onion. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
2
Once boiling, add the cleaned shrimp, fish sauce, and fresh lime juice to the pot. Stir well and allow the soup to simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the shrimp turn opaque and are fully cooked.
3
Carefully add the cooked rice noodles to the pot and gently stir to combine. Heat the soup for an additional minute to warm the noodles through.
4
Ladle the hot soup into bowls, and garnish each serving with fresh bean sprouts, sliced jalapeños, green onions, chopped cilantro, and basil as desired.
5
Serve immediately, allowing guests to customize their bowls with additional lime juice or fish sauce to taste.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name of this soup recipe?
The recipe is for Spicy Vietnamese Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes 4 servings.
What are the primary flavor profiles of this dish?
The soup features a harmonious blend of spicy, sour, and savory flavors.
What kind of noodles are used in this Vietnamese soup?
The recipe uses 4 ounces of rice noodles, cooked, rinsed, and drained.
Can I use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth?
Yes, the recipe allows for either 5 cups of chicken broth or vegetable broth.
How should the lemongrass be prepared?
Lemongrass should be crushed and thinly sliced diagonally, using only the bottom third to half of the stalk.
What types of mushrooms are recommended?
Shiitake mushrooms are recommended, but button mushrooms can be used as a substitute.
How much shrimp is required for this recipe?
The recipe requires 1/2 lb of medium shrimp that have been cleaned and deveined.
What provides the 'sour' element in this hot and sour soup?
The sour flavor comes from 2 1/2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice.
Is fish sauce a necessary ingredient?
Yes, the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, or more to taste, to provide savory depth.
What aromatic vegetables are boiled in the broth initially?
The broth starts by boiling lemongrass, sliced mushrooms, and thinly sliced onion.
How long should the shrimp be cooked?
Shrimp should be simmered for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they turn opaque.
When are the rice noodles added to the pot?
Cooked rice noodles are added after the shrimp are fully cooked, just to warm them through for about a minute.
What fresh garnishes are used for this soup?
Garnishes include bean sprouts, sliced jalapeños, green onions, chopped cilantro, and basil.
How should the jalapeños be prepared for the garnish?
The jalapeños should be seeded and thinly sliced.
Can guests customize their own bowls?
Yes, guests can customize their servings with additional lime juice or fish sauce to taste.
What category of soup does this recipe fall under?
This recipe is categorized as a Clear Soup.
Are there specific herbs used in the soup?
Yes, the recipe uses fresh cilantro and fresh basil, both roughly chopped.
How much onion is used in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of thinly sliced onion.
What kind of bean sprouts are used?
The recipe uses 1 cup of fresh bean sprouts, trimmed and rinsed.
Is this a spicy dish?
Yes, it is described as a spicy soup and includes fresh jalapeño chilies.
Can this soup be served as an appetizer?
Yes, it can be served as an appetizer or a light meal.
How many green onions are needed?
The recipe requires 2 green onions, thinly sliced.
Is this recipe considered a quick meal?
Yes, one of its tags is 'quick soup recipe,' indicating it is fast to prepare.
What total number of ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 13 ingredients in total.
Is this soup considered healthy?
Yes, it is tagged as a healthy soup and a light meal.
What provides the earthy notes in the broth?
Earthy shiitake mushrooms provide the earthy notes in the broth.
Does the recipe contain any dairy?
No, this recipe does not contain any dairy ingredients.
How should the soup be served after cooking?
The soup should be served immediately after garnishing.
What is the origin style of this cuisine?
This dish is based on Asian cuisine, specifically Vietnamese flavors.