Coconut Shrimp Soup

PanNan's Note:

This is posted for the World Tour 2005 event. I'm learning about Australian cuisine, and believe this recipe represents a typical dish, using readily available ingredients. The source is the current Everyday Food magazine. It's slightly modified.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less to your own preference)
• 1 lb carrot (halved lengthwise, and sliced)
• 1 (13 1/2 ounce) can coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 4 ounces angel hair pasta
• 1 1/2 lbs large shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• kosher salt
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a 3 qrt saucepan over medium-low heat. when the oil is hot, add ginger, garlic, and pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, stirring continually. Add carrots, coconut milk and 3 cups water.
2. Mix cornstarch and 2 tbsp water in a small bowl until smooth, and add to the pot. Bring the liquid to a boil.
3. Break pasta in half and add to the pot. Return the liquid to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer until pasta is al dente and carrots are tender (about 4 - 5 minutes).
4. Add shrimp to the pot, and stir until the shrimp is opaque (about a minute). Remove pot from the heat, and stir in lime juice and salt.
5. Garnish individual servings with scallions.

Reviews

[Chef #513305]

I think it's curious that the poster of this recipe describes it as Australian. To me, it seems it's influence is Thai. Anyway, I have made this following the recipe, which was very good as is, but I wound up altering it to suit my tastes the last couple times I made it. I must stress that the original recipe is delicious but I prefer more flavor. Heres what I have done if anyone's interested. I always use chicken broth instead of water. I also add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar (trust me on this) and a few squirts of fish sauce. At the end, I like to stir in a little torn fresh basil, which gives it a wonderful, bright flavor. Also, I have used chicken instead of shrimp, which is excellent as well.

[awalde]

This was a delicious comforting food with a strong exotic touch!
Really delicious, we all enjoced it very much.
I just came home form holidays and I had prepare this using what I had at home (including ginger and limes) and substituting the carrots with one red bell pepper (witch I fried just after the ginger and garlic) and I topped all with chives.
Thanks a lot for this fast and tasty dish!

[Chef #1271561]

I made this soup and added fresh parsley, lemon grass,and cooked rice. After I cooked all including shrimp I blended all in blender. I'll use less red pepper flakes next time. Next time I want to try the fresh basil and fish sauce.