Tom som

Thai soup

Tom som
Place of origin	Thailand
Associated cuisine	Thai
Serving temperature	Hot
Main ingredients	seafood, chili paste
Ingredients generally used	kapi, shallot, coriander, tamarind, palm sugar, fish sauce
Similar dishes	Tom yum

Tom som (Thai: ต้มส้ม, pronounced [tôm sôm]) is a sour soup of Thai origin which usually contains seafood or chicken.

Etymology

The word tom means "boil", and som means "sour".^[1]

History

The soup is typically made in northern Thailand.^[2] According to Chumpol Jangprai, the Thai word "som" has traditionally been used to describe anything that is sour.^[1]

Ingredients

According to Thai chef Bo Songvisava, the broth includes a sour ingredient such as sour tamarind (som makaam), bilimbi (taling pling), nipa palm vinegar (nam som jaak), or roselle flowers (dok krajieb sod) in a chili paste including krill paste (kapi), coriander root, fish sauce, and shallot.^[1] Usually a seafood such as shrimp or fish or other meat such as chicken is added near the end of preparation time.^[1]

Production method

The ingredients are simmered to make a broth, then often strained through a sieve or cheesecloth. Just before serving, small pieces of seafood or chicken are added and simmered just until cooked.^[1]^[2]

Serving

Tom som soups are eaten as a meal, as part of a meal, or as aahaan kap klaem (drinking food).^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Grachangnetara, Mimi (7 March 2019). "Thai Soups Explained: Tom Kha, Tom Yum, Tom Kloang and Tom Som". Michelin. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ricker, Andy; Goode, J. J. (2017). POK POK The Drinking Food of Thailand: A Cookbook. Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. pp. 57–59. ISBN 9781607747741. Retrieved 2021-03-06.