What does the gong in Tom Yum Kung mean?

What does the gong in Tom Yum Goong mean?

What does the gong in Tom Yum Goong mean? Tom Yum Goong is a Thai soup that is made with lemon leaves, shrimps, etc. , is very in line with the taste of Thai people, and is also a particularly representative local soup. Let’s find out what the gong in Tom Yum Goong means. What is the meaning of gong in Tom Yum Goong 1

Prepare the raw materials: shrimps, king oyster mushrooms, green vegetables, fish sauce, dry ingredients, chili powder, fish sauce (it is fish soy sauce, you can use soy sauce instead) , soup cubes (a collection of salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices and other condiments, if not available, you can add chicken essence, salt and other condiments respectively), garlic, dried chili peppers.

Preparation work: Mince garlic, slice Pleurotus eryngii

Tom Yum Kung pot bottom preparation: Add oil to the pot, when the oil is hot, add minced garlic and dried chili and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the shrimps and continue to stir-fry until the shrimps are golden brown and set aside.

Then add water to the pot and bring to a boil over high heat.

After boiling, add dry ingredients and chili powder, pour in the chopped king oyster mushrooms, stir until the dry ingredients, chili powder, and king oyster mushrooms are evenly dispersed, then add fish sauce and a soup cube , stir evenly.

Pour in the fried shrimps, stir evenly, turn down the heat and simmer. Remember to stir in the middle so that the flavor can be absorbed better.

Remember to taste the soup before serving so that you can make adjustments in time to make delicious Tom Yum soup.

Remember to add some lemon juice when it’s time to take it out of the pot.

What is the power of Tom Yum soup?

Tom Yum soup, also called Tomyam soup, Tom yum or tom yam in English, is a traditional Chinese medicine in Thailand and Laos A distinctive hot and sour soup. "Tom Yum" means hot and sour, and "Gong" means shrimp. When translated, it actually means hot and sour shrimp soup. Tom Yum soup is extremely spicy and contains a lot of curry, but after getting used to it, many people will become addicted to it.

The main ingredients of this soup are lemon leaves, lemongrass, shrimp, etc. Tom Yum soup is very common in Thailand. This soup is often consumed in large and small restaurants and ordinary people's homes, thus becoming a representative of Thai cuisine. At the same time, it is also a very popular dish in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Related legends:

During the Thonburi Dynasty in Thailand in the 18th century, the Chinese King Taksin was in power. Princess Miaoyun was sick and didn’t want to eat anything. King Taksin called the royal chef to give her The princess makes some appetizer soup. Unexpectedly, after the princess drank this bowl of soup, she felt completely comfortable and her condition was relieved. King Zheng Xin named it Tom Yum Goong soup and designated it as the "national soup".

The efficacy and function of Tom Yum Goong soup

Thailand’s Tom Yum Goong soup is very famous in our country. Many people who love food and health care are interested in it. We are all familiar with it. Most people accept Tom Yum soup not because of its unique taste, but also because of its many functions and effects. Tom Yum Goong soup is not only suitable for consumption in winter, but also in hot summer. Its main function is to appetize, increase people's appetite, promote gastrointestinal digestion, and has a good effect on relieving constipation. In addition to appetizing, it can also remove dampness. Enhance people's resistance, and most importantly, it can also prevent cancer. What is the meaning of Kung in Tom Yum Kung 2

Thai kung fu movie star Tony Jaa acted in a movie called "Muay Thai Tom Yum Kung" in 2005, and saw "Tom Yum Kung" for the first time at that time When I heard these three words, I subconsciously thought that this should be a kind of martial arts, and even judging from the name, it might have some origins with the "Nine Yin Manual" written by Mr. Jin Yong.

But after watching the movie, I knew that I was overthinking it. The whole movie seemed to have nothing to do with "Tom Yum Goong". This confused me until I started researching it many years later. Only when I studied food culture did I understand the true meaning of the three words "Tom Yum Kung".

"Tom Yum" is the transliteration version of the Thai "", which actually means hot and sour, and is a taste of Thai food.

The reason why it is not translated into the actual meaning is mainly related to the British. When the British gradually encroached on the Thai territory more than 100 years ago, they naturally also came into contact with the local Thai food, perhaps for the purpose of saving trouble. , these earliest British people created a new English word "tom yum" directly through transliteration.

Later, with more in-depth cultural exchanges, everyone discovered the true meaning of this word, but the habit has been formed, and "Tom Yum" has been used, and "Tom Yum Gong" The word "Gong" in Thai is also a transliteration, which is "" in Thai. The pronunciation is very similar to the Chinese word "Gong", which means shrimp.

So Tom Yum Kung is not a peerless martial arts, but... Hot and sour shrimp soup.

Surprised or not?

Thai food with Tom Yum (hot and sour) plays an important role in Thai food culture. It is also an iconic representative of Thai food around the world. If you see the words Tom Yum Soup on the menu of my restaurant, there is no doubt that they are selling Thai food. According to a survey, Tom Yum Goong soup is one of the 50 most well-known delicacies in the world, which shows its popularity.

I have talked to you before about India being rich in spices due to climate and geographical conditions, and Thailand as a country. Countries with a similar climate and geography to India are also rich in spices, but unlike Indians who like to use turmeric (one of the indispensable ingredients in curry), Thais are more keen on using galangal, which is spicy but milder. And this is one of the essential seasonings of Tom Yum Soup.

It is precisely because of the tropical climate near the sea that Thai people are keen on sour and spicy flavors, so the sour and spicy tom yum soup has become the favorite of all Thai people. It gives it spiciness, lemon gives it a pungent sourness, fish sauce brings umami, and coconut milk adds richness to the whole pot of soup.

With a spoonful in your mouth, your taste buds are instantly excited by the stimulation of the spicy taste, and the sour taste overflows. The various flavors are clearly layered and delicious.

Nowadays, "Tom Yum" has become a popular Thai food flavor. Adding fresh shrimps becomes Tom Yum soup, adding seafood becomes Tom Yum Tai, and adding chicken becomes Tom Yum. Cover (the above are all Thai transliterations).

In addition to being unique in the field of food, the word "Tom Yum" has become a cultural symbol for Thais. For example, during the Southeast Asian economic crisis caused by financial tycoon Soros at the end of the last century, Thais used this word as a symbol. This thrilling crisis was called the "Tom Yum Crisis". Perhaps in the minds of Thai people at the time, this was extremely subversive and exciting, just like taking a big mouthful of sour and spicy soup, and their mentality seemed to explode. .

After understanding this truth, let’s look at Tony Jaa’s Kung Fu movie. It’s easy to understand why it’s named Tom Yum Kung. Watching the thrilling martial arts scenes, it’s like taking a big drink and feeling sour. The spicy shrimp soup makes me feel like I am about to explode.