Crab Ball Tom Yum Soup

A comforting and flavorful Crab Ball Tom Yum soup made with simple Indonesian ingredients. This easy homemade recipe delivers a perfect balance of sour, spicy, and savory flavors, ready in just 20 minutes for a delicious family meal.

Servings: 3 - 4 Portions

Ingredients:

• 10–12 crab balls

• 1 liter water or chicken stock

• 3 cloves garlic, crushed

• 3 shallots, sliced

• 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised

• 3 kaffir lime leaves

• 2 red chilies, sliced (adjust to taste)

• 1 medium tomato, cut into wedges

• 100 g mushrooms (button or oyster mushrooms)

• 2 tbsp lime juice

• 1–2 tbsp fish sauce

• 1 tsp sugar

• 2 tbsp chili sauce (optional, for richer color)

• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Optional: 2 tbsp evaporated milk if you prefer a slightly creamy tom yum.

Instructions:

Prepare the Broth

• In a pot, bring water or chicken stock to a boil.

• Add garlic, shallots, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves.

• Let it simmer for 5 minutes until fragrant.

Add the Main Ingredients

• Add crab balls and mushrooms.

• Cook for about 5–7 minutes until the crab balls are heated through.

Season the Soup

• Add fish sauce, sugar, chili sauce (if using), and sliced chilies.

• Stir well.

Add Fresh Ingredients

• Add tomato wedges and cook for another 1–2 minutes.

Balance the Flavor

• Turn off the heat, then add lime juice.

• Taste and adjust seasoning (more lime for sourness, fish sauce for saltiness).

Serve

• Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with steamed rice.

  
  

Cooking Tips:

• Always add lime juice at the end to keep the flavor fresh and vibrant.

• If cooking for kids, reduce the chilies and add a little more sugar for a milder taste.

• You can add glass noodles (vermicelli) to make it more filling.