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AAF’s Recipe of the Day

Need a quick, tasty soup with a difference? Try this spicy Thai soup, a great natural cold and flu remedy, this soup recipe is like medicine in food form. A very healthy soup, it will boost both your mood and your immune system.

To make enough for 4 to 6 you’ll need: 3 pints chicken stock, 1 stalk lemongrass, sliced thinly and minced (tough outer leaves removed), 4 kaffir lime leaves (find these in the freezer section of your local Asian store), 4 cloves garlic, minced, 2 to 4 red chillies, 1 small bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped, 2 tbsp. fish sauce (Nam Pla, usually available in all Asian stores), a handful of fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly, 12 medium or large raw shrimp, shells removed, 1 can good-quality coconut milk, the juice of 2 limes, a handful of baby spinach leaves, a few basil leaves, a littler Tamari (soy sauce)

Pour stock into a large saucepan. Add the following: lemon grass, garlic, chillies, and lime juice & leaves. Add the mushrooms and shrimps. Cook briskly for 6-8 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add the coconut milk and the fish sauce. Stir well then add the baby spinach leaves and basil. Test the soup for spice and salt, adding more chilies and/or fish sauce as you like. If too spicy for your taste, add more coconut milk. Serve in bowls with fresh coriander sprinkled over it. If you feel really hungry you can add some Thai noodles to this.