tom yum gai (hot and sour soup)

Ingredients:

2 cups water
handful pearl mushrooms
bamboo shoots (small can)
handful chopped carrot
2 kaffir lime leaves
3 small limes
chili powder
curry powder
ground fresh chili paste
salt

Instructions:

bring water to a boil. crush lemongrass with a butter knife, tie and put in the boilinig water with the lime leaves. simmer for five minutes, then add the vegetables, curry powder to taste, a scant pinch of chili powder, ditto with the salt. simmer low, adding water if necessary if too much boils off.

place the chili paste and lime juice in the bottom of a bowl (to taste) -- i use about 1 1/2 tsp of the paste and the juice of one small lime. remove the lemongrass and lime leaves from the soup, pour it into the bowl.

serve with a tall glass of citrus mint iced tea and follow up with korma masala.