1cupcoarsely chopped mushrooms, king oyster preferred
1cupyellow onion, cut in wide petals
2wholeMakrut lime leaves
4thinslices galangal
Slicedred and greenThai chilies to taste
Serving
Sliced red and greenThai chilis to taste
Vegan fish sauce
Instructions
Broth
Smash the bulb end of the lemongrass and cut the stalk into four pieces. Slice galangal. Tear Makrut lime leaves in half.
Place prepared lemongrass, galangal and lime leaves in a soup pot with the remaining stock ingredients. Bring to a boil and cook at low heat for 10 minutes while preparing tofu and vegetables for soup.
After 10 minutes, pour the stock through a strainer to separate the broth from seasonings. Toss seasonings out and return broth to soup pot.
Vegetables and tofu
Cut tofu into one-inch cubes and set it aside with tomato wedges and watercress.
Heat oil in a saucepan. Saute onion, mushroom, lime leaves, and galangal until fragrant and just lightly browned.
Add onion and mushroom mixture to soup broth along with the tofu. Bring to a boil.
Gently stir tomato wedges and watercress into the soup. Cover with a lid and remove the pot from the heat.
Serve Soup
Slice fresh red and green Thai chilies and place them on the table with Vegan Fish Sauce or soy sauce.
Pour hot soup in bowls and let diners garnish with chili and sauce as desired.
Notes
Note on substitutionsIn my book, Makrut lime, galangal, lemongrass, and tamarind have no substitutes. They are remarkable seasonings and worth seeking out.Swaps you can make:King oyster mushrooms have a marvelous meaty texture, but you can use whatever type of mushroom you have available.Likewise, you can substitute other brown sugars for coconut sugar, and your onions can be white, red, or yellow.The tofu you select can be any grade from medium to extra-firm as long as it's not silken type.If you aren't able to find or make vegan fish sauce, you can substitute soy sauce with a little toasted sesame oil added to it. Try ⅛ teaspoon of sesame oil for every tablespoon of soy sauce. It won't be the same or quite as good, but this combination provides a different flavor that is tasty on its own.