Tom Yum Soup originated in Thailand and is one of the most popular and reverred dishes in all of Thai cuisine for four primary reasons:
1) It is absolutely delicious
2) It is about as healthy as healthy gets
the ingredients in Tom Yum Soup are 100 times more effective in inhibiting cancerous tumor growth than other foods.
3) It is QUICK and easy to make
4) It is versatile -- add this ingredient, or keep that one out, and it creates a new but still incredible-tasting soup
Characterized by its distinct hot and sour flavors -- though if you don't like spicy you can opt to keep the "hot" out (but how dare you!) -- the basic broth is made of stock and many fresh ingredients like lemon grass, garlic, lime juice, shitake mushrooms, peppers and crushed chilis.
A Delicious Bowl of Immunity
Tom Yum Soup has been under scientific study because of its belief to have immune-boosting powers to help with cold and flu viruses.
Thailand's Kasetsart University and Japan's Kyoto and Kinki Universities conducted a joint study and found that the ingredients in Tom Yum Soup are 100 times more effective in inhibiting cancerous tumor growth than other foods.
"The ratio of the cancer pattern in Asians, especially southeast Asians, is very low compared with the pattern in the European and Western countries," says researcher Jiwajindra of Kasetsart University.
In fact, Thai people have a much lower incidence of digestive tract cancers than do people of other countries.
So if the idea of amazing taste and health in a bowl appeals to you -- not to mention an excuse to repeat the fun name ... try saying "Tom Yum" five times fast! -- try this easy-to-follow recipe below.
NOTE: This is my wife's amazing version of Tom Yum Soup, and so just as many other great discoverers have been honored, it therefore gets her name...
Tom Yum Soup
INGREDIENTS:

3 cups chicken stock or chicken broth
1 stalk lemongrass, sliced thinly (tough outer leaves and bulb removed)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green and 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
1, 2 or 3 small Jalapeno peppers (depending on desired spiciness)
2 stalks green onions, cut small
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
A handful of fresh shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
12 medium or large raw shrimp, shells removed; and/or chicken pieces; and/or turkey cubes; and/or tofu
A handful of cherry tomatoes
The juice of one lime and/or lemon
One to two squirts of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (best one is by Huy Fong Foods) - (optional--ONLY if you like spicy!)
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
PREPARATION:

Pour stock or broth into a deep cooking pot, add lemongrass, garlic, Jalapeno peppers, red and green peppers. Simmer 5 minutes.
Add all other ingredients and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Enjoy!

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