THAI; Mushroom Lemaongrass Soup

Ingredients:




* 3 cups water
* 1 lemongrass stalk, cut into 4" pieces and smashed
* 4-6 whole (double) torn lime leaves
* 3 slices galangal (about 1/2 teaspoon)
* 1/2 cube shittake flavor knorr buillon cubes
* 3-20 small thai chilies, to taste
* 2 cups mixed mushrooms (straw mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, black mushrooms,
   oyster mushrooms,wood ear mushrooms, etc.)
* 1 tomato, cut into 8 pieces lengthwise
* 2 tablespoons white soy sauce
* 1 teaspoon white sugar
* 3 tablespoons lime juice
* 1-2 stems coriander, including roots

Directions:



Add the water to a sauce pan. Crush the lemongrass and cilantro root in a stone mortar & pestle or
with the butt of a knife, then add them to the water. Tear the lime leaves to release flavor,and throw them in too along with the galangal.Turn on your heat to medium high, and bring to a boil.Boil your herbs for about 5 minutes or so, to release the flavors. The color of the water should be a light green when you’re finished.Add the mushrooms, chilies and knorr cube. Boil for 2-3 more minutes,until mushrooms are soft.Add the sliced tomato, and cook until soft, probably less than a minute.Turn off the heat. Add your soy sauce, sugar, and at the very end the lime juice. Taste to make sure the flavoris right It should be very sour & spicy. You may need to add more lime juice depending on how sour your limes are.Transfer to a bowl and garnish with cilantro