Steven and I both got hit with bad colds last weekend. We felt like crap with body aches, coughing, difficulty breathing… you get the picture. Ugh! While suffering miserably, by chance, I picked up the latest edition of Vegetarian Times. They’ve a recipe for a soup that sounded exactly like what we needed to get better. It’s earthy with sweet and sour flavors. The magazine claims it’s also supposed to nurture your digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems. I totally believe it because some of the ingredients in the soup are the same things my mom used to give me when I was a kid to help recover from illness. The spiciness of the soup certainly helped clear my respiratory tract right away!

spicy Thai soup for the soul

I’ve made South East Asian inspired soups before, though usually with fish sauce. So this vegetarian/vegan soup is sort of intriguing. I’ve adapted the recipe to my taste and to the ingredients that I had handy at home.

Spicy Thai Vegetable Soup for the Soul

Paste for broth:

some key ingredients for spicy Thai soup for the soul

16 dried Mexican chiles de arbol
10 peeled garlic cloves
½ tsp kosher salt
1½ stalk lemon grass, light green part only, outer extra tough layer discarded, minced
4 minced shallots
2½ tbsp dark Miso paste

For the soup:

8 cups water or vegetable broth
4 tbsp light soy sauce
4 cups roughly chopped Napa cabbage
4 cups roughly chopped arugula
½ cup fresh mint leaves
½ cup cilantro
¾ cup firm tofu, cubed
¾ cup white mushrooms, quartered

Soak chiles in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain and chop them up fine. Grind chiles, garlic, shallots and lemon grass in a food processor. Add miso and run processor to incorporate into a thick aromatic paste. At this point your respiratory system will be already starting to clear while your kitchen will be invaded with amazing garlicky and peppery aromas.

Put water or vegetable broth in a large pan and bring to a boil. Add chile/miso paste. Stir to dissolve. Add soy sauce, mushrooms and Napa Cabbage. Cook for about four minutes. Add tofu cubes and cook for two more minutes. Remove from heat. Add arugula, mint and cilantro. Adjust flavor with more soy sauce if necessary. Serve with a side dish of rice.

just because he's cute