Thai food has long been regarded as one of the healthiest foods you can eat. And one of these famous Thai soups, Tom Yum Shrimp Soup, has even been studied for its health benefits: Pronounced “Thoum Yumm Goong” or ต้มยำกุ้ง in Thai.
"Tom yum is Thailand's favorite soup," says Chef Rolf Schmitz of the Regent Hotel's Spice Market restaurant. "It's a shrimp soup with herbal ingredients like coriander, lemongrass, lime leaves and even galangal roots." One joint study conducted by Thailand's Kasetsart University and Japan's Kyoto and Kinki Universities has found that the ingredients in tom yum soups are 100 times more effective in inhibiting cancerous tumor growth than other foods. The soup was so effective that scientists sought to extract some of the chemical compounds that seem to be the most effective. Along with these properties, researchers started to focus on what kinds of edible plants were in the region, including limes, lemongrass, and a variety of peppers because the cancer pattern in Asians, especially southeast Asians, is very low compared with the pattern in European and Western countries. In fact, Thais especially have a lower incidence of digestive tract cancers.
The Healthiest Soup is from Thailand.
"The Thai/Japan study isn't the only one being done, but it is the most famous because tom yum was said to be 100 time more effective in inhibiting cancerous tumor growth," says Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza Restaurant in Las Vegas. "What I wonder is if the positive effect of tom yum might be related to the combination of ingredients as much as the ingredients themselves." Wong says that making tom yum is an exercise in passion and patience, like many authentic Thai dishes. It is typically made with many fresh ingredients such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce, and crushed chili peppers.
Best Tom Yum Chicken Soup in Las Vegas
At Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant in Las Vegas, which is the oldest authentic Thai restaurant in the city, Wong says that they use a special roasted chili sauce to bring out the flavors. The soup, he says, also has to be maintained at 160 degrees when it is served, which is why they serve it in a tureen or Hot-Pot with a flame in the middle to keep it good and hot. "As much as we love to see diners take home leftovers, tom yum is one of a few dishes that never seems to be properly re-heated well, partly because it loses its flavors when it cools down, not too many diners know the exact optimal temperature in order to maintain taste integrity," says Wong.
"I think the medical community may want to look at the combination of ingredients as well as the temperature at which the soup is served. As all Thai cooks know, different temperatures cause ingredients to interact variously, changing the taste and perhaps any health benefits." Although Tom Yum Soups is generally served with Jumbo Shrimp, Kung Fu Thai & Chinese has made variations to cater to more people. Tom yum seafood - ต้มยำทะเล includes a variety of seafood including: Jumbo Shrimps, Calamari, Green shell Mussel oysters, and sliced fish fillet of Sole to round out the combination of the seas.
Not to be undone, Tom Yum Chicken Soup - ต้มข่าไก่ was created to appease the appetites of some Westerners. Although fresh cuts of white meat chicken breast can be substituted in place of the sliced chicken thigh meat for a slight upcharge, we recommend the dark meat since it absorbs more of the ingredients versus breast meat.
The Best Tom Yum Seafood Soup in Las Vegas