Gaeng Khae(Spicy Thai Vegetable Soup)

This is a medicinal soup from north Thailand anad is believed to prevent and reduce colds and fever. The base is a hand ground paste of chiles, garlic, lemongrass, and shallots. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, blend all of the ingredients in a food processor. Serve with rice.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Chile Paste

• 15  dried arbol chiles (or japones chiles)
• 8  garlic cloves, peeled
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  stalks lemongrass, minced
• 2  shallots, minced (1/2 cup)
• 1  teaspoon red miso

• Soup

• 4  cups vegetable broth (preferably low sodium)
• 2  tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1⁄2 cups  sliced  beet leaves (or Swiss chard or escarole, turnip greens, kale, etc.)
• 1  cup fennel, diced (or turnips)
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced mushrooms
• 1  cup firm tofu, diced
• 1  cup  coarsely chopped arugula
• 1⁄2 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Chile Paste:.
2. Soak chiles in a bowl of boiling water 30 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and finely chop.
3. Combine garlic and salt in mortar, and pound with pestle(or food processor). Add lemongrass, shallots, miso and chiles, pounding and crushing after each addition to make a thick paste(or use food processor).
4. Soup:.
5. Bring the broth to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Stir in soy sauce and chile paste.
6. Add greens, fennel, and mushroooms, and bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 5 minutes.
7. Add tofu, and cook 2 more minutes.
8. Stir in arugula, mint and parsley. Simmer 1-2 minuttes, or until herbs wilt. Enjoy!