Thai-style Hot and Sour Soup

Description
Contributed by World Recipes Y-Group

This Y-group is international. Good food from all parts of the world. A place where we can share the wonderful food from all over the world.

Ingredients

 * 3 cups chicken stock
 * 2 garlic cloves, minced
 * 5 kaffir lime leaves
 * 3 slices fresh or dried ginger
 * ¼ cup fish sauce
 * 2 stalks lemon grass, lower ⅓ portion only, peeled, cut into 1 inch lengths
 * 5 hot green Thai chile peppers, optional
 * ½ cup sliced straw mushrooms
 * 8 ounces shrimps or prawns, shelled and split length wise
 * ¼ cup lime juice
 * 1 teaspoon roasted chile paste
 * 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Directions

 * 1) Bring the stock to a boil in a sauce pot.
 * 2) Add the garlic, lime leaves, ginger,  sauce and lemon grass for 2 minutes.
 * 3) Then add the mushrooms and chile peppers, if using.
 * 4) Simmer for 4 more minutes.
 * 5) Add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp are pink, opaque and firm but no longer than 2 minutes.
 * 6) When the shrimp is cooked, place the lime juice and chile paste in a serving bowl.
 * 7) Pour the soup into the bowl, stir and garnish with cilantro leaves.
 * 8) Serve at once.