Hot And Sour Fish Soup

• 1 1/2 quarts water or 1 1/2 quarts mild soup stock, salted with
• fish sauce, to the desired saltiness
• 1 lb trout (pan fried)
• 4 -5 stalks fresh lemongrass (dta-krai)
• 8 thin slices fresh ginger (kha)
• 4 -6 kaffir lime leaves, torn (bai ma-gkrood)
• 15 -20 whole Thai chiles, stem removed and bruised with the back of a cleaver (prik kee noo)
• 1 small shallot, quartered and sliced crosswise 1/4-inch thick
• 2 -3 tablespoons roasted chili paste (nahm prk pow)
• 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp, mixed with 1/2 cup of hot water, pulp removed (the tamarind is sold in blocks, use about 1 Tbs.)
• 2 cups fresh brown button mushrooms, sliced in 1/4-inch pieces
• 2 small firm tomatoes, cut in small wedges (optional)
• 4 green onions, cut in thin rounds
• 2 -3 limes, juice of, to desired sourness
• 1/2 - 1 cup cilantro leaf

1. Cut the bottom tip off the lemon grass stalks and discard the loose outer layer(s). Then cut the stalks an inch apart at a slanted angle all the way up to the greener end where the grass blades start, exposing the inner core.
2. Smnash each piece with the side of a cleaver, or the end of a heavy handle to bruise, releasing the aromatic oils.
3. Place the cut lemon grass along with the sliced ginger, kaffir lime leaves, and about 2 quarts of waqter in a soup pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer with a lid on for about 20-30 minutes to draw out flavors. Strain.
4. Add the bruised whole Thai chillies (or substitute0 and a slicd onion. Simmer a couple of minutes.
5. Add roasted chilli paste, tamarind jui9ce, and fresh brown mushrooms.
6. Return to a boil and simmer a couple more minutes.
7. Stir in the tomato wedges (if using), green onions and fish.
8. After 15-30 seconds, turn off heat, add lime juce to the desired sourness and the cilantro. Serve immediately. Do not let the fish overcook.

water, fish sauce, trout, ginger, lime, chiles, shallot, chili paste, tamarind pulp, fresh brown button mushrooms, tomatoes, green onions, cilantro leaf

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/hot-and-sour-fish-soup-236973 (may not work)