Thai Hot and Sour Soup

THAI HOT AND SOUR CHICKEN SOUP
adapted from http://www.steamykitchen.com/28246-thai-hot-and-sour-chicken-soup-recipe-video.html

On the lookout for ways to use the fresh lemon grass I have in the garden, I picked out this recipe, and David made it a couple of days ago.  It was sooooo good!  A complex taste that was both comforting and enlivening.  I couldn't help myself from oohing and aahing throughout the eating of the soup.

David made this just as directed, substituting lime peel for the kaffir lime leaves. He used fresh mushrooms (just regular button mushrooms) instead of canned straw mushrooms.  He added bean thread noodles and about a cup of snow peas (cut in half).  If you want to make a vegetarian version, you could use vegetable broth and substitute tofu for the chicken.

• 3 cups chicken stock
• 4 slices fresh ginger
• grated peel from half a lime 
• 2 stalks lemongrass, cut into 2" lengths and bruised (can substitute peel from other half of the lime) 
• 1 fresh jalapeno, sliced 
• 1/2 pound skinless, boneless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes 
• handful of sliced mushrooms
• cup of snow peas, cut in half
• cellophane (bean thread) noodles, soaked for 10 minutes in hot water and cut with scissors into 2-inch lengths) optional
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 T. freshly squeezed lime juice (1 lime)
• fresh cilantro leaves

In a pot, add the chicken stock, ginger, kaffir/lime peel, lemongrass and chile slices. Bring to a simmer, cover, and then turn the heat to low. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Strain out and discard the spent herbs. (You can taste the soup at this point, if you would like it more spicy, keep the chile pepper slices in the stock and discard just before serving.)

Add in the chicken pieces, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms. Bring back to a simmer on medium heat and then cook for an additional 2 minutes. Add cellophane noodles (if using) and cook 2 minutes. Add snow peas and cook for another minute.

Stir in the fish sauce, lime juice and cilantro leaves.