Indonesian Vegetable Sour Soup (Sayur Asam)

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon tamarind pod
• 200 ml warm water
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
• 1 red chili pepper, seeded and sliced
• 3 tablespoons raw peanuts
• 1 teaspoon shrimp paste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 cups low-fat chicken broth
• 1/2 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 chayote, peeled, seeded, and sliced thin
• 1/2 cup frozen green bean, ends trimmed
• 1/3 cup frozen corn kernels

Directions

1. 1

   Prepare tamarind by placing it in a small bowl with warm water. Let soak for 15 minutes.

2. 2

   To make spice paste, combine shallot, garlic, ginger, red chili pepper, raw peanuts, shrimp paste, and salt in a large mortar and blend well with a pestle. Use a food processor or blender if you don’t have a mortar and pestle.

3. 3

   Transfer paste to a medium saucepan and add chicken or vegetable broth, salted peanuts, and brown sugar. Stir to combine, and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes.

4. 4

   Meanwhile, use a strainer to separate the tamarind seeds from the juice. Throw away the seeds and keep the juice.

5. 5

   Add chayote, green beans, and corn to the soup, and cook over high heat for 5 minutes.

6. 6

   Just before serving, add tamarind juice and stir. Garnish with green chili pepper slices if desired.