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[saysdances]

My favorite thing about living in Boston so far is that it's pretty much constantly been soup and sweater weather. So far I've made vegan clam chowder twice, spicy peanut eggplant soup, vegan gumbo, split pea soup twice, and southwestern corn chowder. I can't decide what to make next. How about you share with me your favorite soup recipe?

Comments

May I offer my favorite?

[grammarfight]

Vegan Tom Kha (Thai Coconut Ginger Soup)

•1 or 2 cans of coconut milk (14 oz. -- I like it rich so I almost always use two)
•2 cups vegetable stock or so
•8 kaffir lime leaves (omittable if you can’t find ‘em: tough in SF, easier in Boston?)
•3 stalks lemongrass - the tenderest, juiciest bits
•6 or more 1/2" thick slices of galangal (ginger works in a pinch but galangal is better)
•a few black peppercorns
•8 oz. or so of oyster or enoki or button or other delicious mushrooms, sliced
•1 package or so diced tofu (can be fried or tempura’d if you like the texture better)
•2 Thai chilis, sliced
•2 T lime juice
•1 T soy sauce or vegetarian fish sauce (recipe for veggie fish sauce which I love is below)
•1 ½ T roasted chili paste (I always use more, and I use fried chili paste because it is more scrumptious)
•1 T cilantro, chopped; cilantro for garnish
•2 lime leaves for garnish

Combine in a pot and bring to a boil: coconut milk, stock, galangal, 6 of the lime leaves, the lemongrass, and peppercorns. Reduce heat and simmer covered on low half an hour or so.

Strain through a sieve to remove herbs and return to pot. Add mushrooms, tofu, chilies, soy/veggie fish sauce, roasted chili paste, and cilantro. Simmer until mushrooms are cooked through. Add lime juice, stir, and serve with rice if you'd like. Sometimes I spice it up a little more from here, but I’m a southwest desert boy.

Garnish with cilantro, chili powder, lime leaf, and a lime wedge.

Vegan Fish Sauce
(Almost as good as the real thing! Maybe better!)

•1 cup thin soy sauce
•4 T tamari
•1 T Vegetarian Oyster Sauce (actual buyable product)
•1/4 cup Thai chiles (optional but I like chilis in everything)
•2" square piece of kombu (love sea veggies)

Combine all ingredients and let sit for a day. Remove kombu and store (Mason jars work great).

Re: May I offer my favorite?

[saysdances]

I made a similar (& simpler) but not identical soup the night that I posted this entry. I used sliced carrots, onion and lime juice, a large can of veg. broth, a small can of coconut milk, a tub of white button mushrooms and a can of duck-flavored gluten. It was delicious! I'll definitely give your version a try at some point. Thanks.