A family favorite, and one of Thailand's most popular dishes, Tom Yum Soup is full of spicy, sour, and savory flavors. This easy recipe uses tom yum soup paste so you can easily make this delicious and addicting soup in no time!

When people think of Thai food, they might think of pad thai, or chicken satay. But for me, it's always been tom yum soup! I love all the tangy, savory and spicy flavors of the unique soup.

So much so that I found a simple and easy way to make it in the comfort of my own kitchen. Follow along to learn more about this delicious Thai soup!

Tom yum soup served in a white bowl with a serving spoon.

What's Tom Yum Soup?

Tom yum soup is also known as Thai hot and sour soup is a very popular soup in Thai cuisine. It's made with fragrant spices and herbs including lemongrass, onion, chili, galangal, and garlic. The soup also includes proteins such as shrimp, chicken or pork.

What ingredients do I need and how do I make easy tom yum soup recipe?

  • Water
  • Chicken Broth
  • Tom Yum Paste
  • Shrimp/Prawns or Chicken
  • Mushrooms
  • Lemongrass (or use kaffir lime leaves)
  • Fresh Cilantro

Note – Lemongrass is not edible, so remove it before serving.

Instant tom yum paste in a jar used to make easy tom yum soup recipes.

What's tom yum paste and where can I purchase it?

Tom yum paste is sold around the world. It's a great option because it already contains all the flavors and spices found in tom yum soup including Thai chili paste, so don't add too much otherwise it will be very spicy.

You can find it at an Asian grocery store. I've also included a link for online purchase if you can't find it locally.

Can I replace the shrimp with chicken in the tom yum?

You can add any type of protein you prefer including chicken, pork, or even tofu. Traditionally, it's usually made with shrimp or chicken but feel free to use your preferred choice.

White common mushroom sliced and washed ready to be used in tom yum soup recipe.

What kind of mushrooms should I use for this soup?

  • White Bottom Mushroom
  • Brown Cremini
  • Button Mushrooms
  • Oyster Mushrooms

Looking for a creamy version of tom yum soup?

We have just what you're looking for here.  Check out our other Creamy Coconut Tom Kha Gai Soup Thai soup recipe using coconut milk.

Any tips in preparing tom yum soup?

  • Add some chopped tomatoes and lime juice for extra flavor.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro or chopped green onions.
  • Freeze leftovers in a single serving airtight container and reheat in the microwave.

Tom yum soup in a Dutch oven pot top down picture.

Looking for other Asian soup recipes?

  • Creamy Coconut Tom Kha Gai Soup
  • Cream Corn Potage Soup
  • Seafood Egg Drop Soup
  • Japanese Asari Clam Miso Soup
  • Full Collection of Asian Soup Recipes

Now, let's get making this easy Tom Yum soup recipe!

  • Prepping Time 5M
  • Cook Time 5M
  • Total Time 10M
  • Net Carb/Serving ~4g
  • Servings 3

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Water
  • 1 Cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Tom Yum Paste (amount will vary depending on the brand)
  • 1 lbs Large Peeled Shrimp
  • 1 Cup Sliced Common White Mushrooms
  • 1 Stick Lemongrass
  • 7-9 Stems Cilantro

Directions

1) Gather all the ingredients.

2) Prepare shrimp by deveining, peeling, and drying off any liquid with a paper towel.

3) Loosely chop cilantro, slice mushrooms, chop lemongrass into 2 inch sticks and set aside.

4) Add water, chicken broth and chopped lemongrass into a large stove top pot and bring to a soft boil over medium heat.

5) Once boiling, add sliced mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes.

6) Next add in shrimp and cook for 30-45 seconds or until shrimp turns pink. Note – if using chicken, cut into 1×1 inch cubes and cook for 3-5 minutes.

7) Place Tom Yum Paste inside a strainer and mix into the soup with chopsticks/spoon as shown below (if you don't have a strainer, you can use a deep spoon). Note – the amount will vary depending on the brand, so taste and adjust to liking.

8) Finally sprinkle in chopped cilantro and enjoy the soup hot!

Hope you enjoy your homemade Tom Yum soup!

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Tom yum soup served in a white bowl with a serving spoon.
  • 2 Cups Water
  • 1 Cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Tom Yum Paste amount will vary depending on the exact brand
  • 1 lbs Large Peeled Shrimp
  • 1 Cup Sliced Common White Mushrooms
  • 1 Stick Lemongrass
  • 7-9 Stems Cilantro

  • Gather all the ingredients.

  • Prepare shrimp by deveining, peeling, and drying off any liquid with a paper towel.

  • Loosely chop cilantro, slice mushrooms, chop lemongrass into 2 inch sticks and set aside.

  • Add water, chicken broth and chopped lemongrass into a large stove top pot and bring to a soft boil over medium heat.

  • Once boiling, add sliced mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes.

  • Next add in shrimp and cook for 30-45 seconds or until shrimp turns pink. Note - if using chicken, cut into 1x1 inch cubes and cook for 3-5 minutes.

  • Place Tom Yum Paste inside a strainer and mix into the soup with chopsticks/spoon as shown below (if you don't have a strainer, you can use a deep spoon).  Note - the amount will vary depending on the brand, so taste and adjust to liking.

  • Finally sprinkle in chopped cilantro and enjoy the soup hot!

Calories: 208 kcal | Carbohydrates: 5 g | Protein: 33 g | Fat: 6 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 381 mg | Sodium: 1906 mg | Potassium: 334 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 2 g | Vitamin A: 159 IU | Vitamin C: 13 mg | Calcium: 234 mg | Iron: 4 mg

*Values Based Per Serving

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