Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp Soup

Name: Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp Soup
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: About 7 cups
Cuisine: vietnamese
Ingredients: 3 pounds medium shrimp, shells on; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 stalk lemongrass, smashed; 1 2-inch piece ginger; 1/2 teaspoon dried chili powder; 1 cup tomatoes, chopped and stewed; 1 tablespoon roasted sesame-seed oil; 2 cups 1/2-inch chunks fresh pineapple; 2 teaspoons Vietnamese fish sauce; 4 scallions, julienned; 2 1/2 teaspoons lime juice; 3/4 teaspoons sugar; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 1/2 cup cilantro leaves

By Molly O'Neill

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Rating: (0)
Comments: Read comments

Featured in: Food; The Pineapple Parable

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Ingredients

Yield:About 7 cups

For the Broth

3pounds medium shrimp, shells on
2tablespoons vegetable oil
1stalk lemongrass, smashed
12-inch piece ginger
½teaspoon dried chili powder
1cup tomatoes, chopped and stewed

For the Soup

1tablespoon roasted sesame-seed oil
2cups ½-inch chunks fresh pineapple
2teaspoons Vietnamese fish sauce
4scallions, julienned
2½teaspoons lime juice
¾teaspoons sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
½cup cilantro leaves

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
To make the broth, peel the shrimp, saving the shells (about 5 cups). Refrigerate the shrimp. In a heavy pot, heat the oil over high heat. When nearly smoking, add the shells, lemongrass, ginger and chili powder and toss for 3 minutes, or until the shells are toasted. Add 8 cups water and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, or until reduced by half. Strain the broth through a fine sieve, pressing down on the shells to extract liquid. (You should have 5 cups; if you have less add water to equal 5 cups.) Discard solids.
Step 2
To make the soup, return the broth to the pot. Add the sesame oil, pineapple and fish sauce and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Add the scallions, lime juice, sugar, and 1 pound of the reserved shrimp. (Save the rest for another use.) Heat until the shrimp are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, stir in the cilantro and serve.