Tom yum lives or dies on the broth, so the aromatics have to be bruised and simmered, not boiled to death. Add the lime juice and fish sauce off the heat at the very end — boiling lime juice turns it flat and bitter.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep15 min
Cook20 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineThai
Cost$$$
Gluten-freeDairy-free
Contains fish · shellfish
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for4servings
Shrimp
Head-on shrimp give the broth its depth; save the shells to simmer for stock.
Can you make Tom Yum Soup in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert
Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.
Can you freeze Tom Yum Soup? — Yes
Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.
Can you make Tom Yum Soup ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.
Is Tom Yum Soup gluten-free? — Yes
Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.
Is Tom Yum Soup vegan? — No
No — it contains seafood, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →