Last Updated on September 14, 2024 by Shari Mason
Tom Yum soup **packs a punch** with its **delicious and fragrant** flavors. This **yummy treat**, a big hit in Thailand, has also found its way into the hearts of folks in the United States.
However, this soup requires some unusual ingredients like kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass, making it tricky to cook a Tom Yum soup at home.
Fortunately, we’ve tried numerous Tom Yum pastes to save you from gathering many ingredients.
Here are some of the best Tom Yum pastes for your next Thai dish cravings.
Top 10 Tasty Tom Yum Pastes You Need To Try
1. Maesri Tom Yum Paste
Average Price: around $9-10 (14 oz)
Why We Love It: We recommend this one for an easy but delicious Tom Yum paste for Thai soup.
With coconut milk, celery, mushroom, sliced cabbage, onion, and vegetable or chicken broth, you will have a homemade Tom Yum soup with this paste.
It could make your Tom Yum almost as tasty as what you can buy at your favorite Thai restaurants.
Read: How Long Is Pad Thai Good For In The Fridge?
2. Quoc Viet Thai Tom Yum Soup Base
Average Price: around $8-10 (10 oz)
Why We Love It: The smell of lemongrass is a little overwhelming with this Tom Yum soup base, but the flavor is almost the same as what we’re looking for.
It has enough heat for people with sensitive mouths. It is also slightly salty, but when we added coconut milk or more water, we easily adjusted the flavor based on our preference.
3. Lobo Tom Yum Paste
Average Price: around $7-10 (3 pcs of 1.06 oz)
Why We Love It: Lobo Tom Yum paste has a rich, delicious flavor that incorporates a spicy kick to any food you want to have.
Add tofu, shrimp, mushrooms, or chopped scallions to make a flavorful soup. Or you can also use this one and make a tasty tuna salad.
4. Siam Select Instant Tom Yum Soup Paste
Average Price: around $5 (16 oz)
Why We Love It: This Tom Yum paste is among the most affordable spicy dish additions. It imparts enough spiciness to any Thai soup recipe you want to try.
“Tom Yum paste is meant to be the flavoring for Tom Yum soup, but it is also simply delicious as a marinade. It works wonders with all types of chicken, fish, and seafood as well as pork.”
– Darlene Schmidt, Culinary Teacher
5. Mae Pranom Tom Yum Paste
Average Price: around $8-12 (8 oz)
Why We Love It: Mae Pranom Tom Yum paste was recommended by one of our teammates, who is a great fan of Thai dishes.
He found this paste in several cookbooks while attempting to cook his meals. It has a pleasant and rich taste, imparting an authentic flavor in plain rice, stir fry, sandwiches, or soup.
6. Dragonfly Vegetarian Tom Yum Paste
Average Price: around $5-10 (8 oz)
Why We Love It: The Dragonfly Vegetarian Tom Yum paste contains citric acid, chili, lemongrass, galanga, citrus leaves, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, and MSG.
It is a great soup base, and you only need to add tofu, mushrooms, chopped green onions, or any other ingredients to make a delicious meal.
7. Por Kwan Instant Tom Yum Paste
Average Price: around $20-30 (16 oz)
Why We Love It: This product is one of the best Tom Yum paste brands that can incorporate the right spiciness into your Tom Yum soup in a few minutes.
Add chicken, shrimp, or any vegetable, and the soup is ready instantly. It is one of the Tom Yum pastes that would help you satisfy your cravings for a spicy Thai dish quickly and easily.
8. Mekhala Organic Tom Yum Paste
Average Price: around $5-7 (3.53 oz)
Why We Love It: Mekhala Organic Tom Yum paste is probably the best option for health-conscious people who want to enhance the flavors of their dishes. However, it is more expensive than other Tom Yum pastes on the list.
This plant-based product has no refined sugar, shrimp, oil, egg, or dairy. You can flavor pasta, make a broth, cook noodles, or use it as a punchy, tangy marinade.
9. Dragonfly Gluten-Free Thai Tom Yum Paste
Average Price: around $10-15 (8 oz)
Why We Love It: This gluten-free variety from Dragonfly is a bit sweet. It’s suitable for those unfamiliar with Thai soups or those who are only beginning to explore their dishes.
This paste has 60 calories per serving and is perfect for people who prefer a not-so-spicy Tom Yum soup.
10. Cock Brand Tom Yum Instant Hot & Sour Soup Paste
Average Price: around $11-16 (8 oz)
Why We Love It: It is a flavorful addition to your dishes, making them taste as if they come straight from your favorite Thai restaurants.
“The best tom yum paste is all about finding the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy.”
– Eat Pallet Food & Advice
With two spoons of this Tom Yum paste for every three cups of water, your soup will have an authentic spicy and sour flavor, enhancing your every meal.
Special Note: Its 16% soya bean oil may cause allergic reactions in some people.
FAQs
u003cstrongu003eIs Tom Yum paste any good?u003c/strongu003e
Yes, Tom Yum paste is an excellent addition to many dishes, especially in soups. It is also a delicious flavoring of pork, chicken, and seafood.
u003cstrongu003eWhat is the difference between red Tom Yum and clear Tom Yum?u003c/strongu003e
The main difference between red Tom Yum and clear Tom Yum is the addition of Thai roasted chili paste and coconut milk to the red Tom Yum soup. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eRed Tom Yum is more savory and has a richer flavor than clear Tom Yum, although some recipes could enhance the chilies.
u003cstrongu003eWhat is Tom Yum paste made of?u003c/strongu003e
Tom Yum paste is usually made of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, mushrooms, galangal, Thai chilis, tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro, and onion u003ca href=u0022https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-restaurants-food/learn-to-make-the-spicy-tom-yum-soup-from-little-bangkok/PWZGIFYUMFANVFTTMO6AJ4SLP4/u0022u003e[1]u003c/au003e. It also has soya bean oil that can trigger allergic reactions in some people.
u003cstrongu003eIs Tom Yum a healthy soup?u003c/strongu003e
Yes, Tom Yum soup is a healthy soup because it contains less than a hundred calories per cup and is low in fat u003ca href=u0022https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-thai-food-healthu0022u003e[2]u003c/au003e. It has shrimp, lemongrass, and vegetables and is healthier than soups with coconut milk.
In Conclusion
Tom Yum paste has a delicious flavoring to upgrade the taste of any dish you want, especially a Tom Yum soup. Making a Tom Yum paste at home is easy, but various ingredients may not always be available.
That’s why it is good to have various Tom Yum paste brands to choose from. There are vegetarian, organic, gluten-free, or MSG-free Tom Yum soup pastes for your favorite dishes.
There will always be a Tom Yum paste that can meet your diet restrictions and also satisfy your taste buds.
References:
- https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-restaurants-food/learn-to-make-the-spicy-tom-yum-soup-from-little-bangkok/
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-thai-food-health
- Can You Put an AC Unit in the Kitchen? - September 27, 2024
- What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use? Discover Their Signature - September 27, 2024
- How to Cancel a Pizza Hut Order? Quick & Easy Guide - September 24, 2024