SWEET-AND-SOUR THAI FISH SOUP

Sweet-and-Sour Thai Fish Soup image

Provided by Food Network

Time 42m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
4 shallots, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, plus 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon tamarind paste, softened with 2 tablespoons water, (use 1 tablespoon lime juice if tamarind paste is not available)
1 anchovy fillet
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon fish sauce
3 cups clam juice
1 to 2 pounds white fish fillets (cod, halibut, or snapper), skinned and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
6 radishes, thinly sliced
1 cup snow peas
2 scallions, sliced
1/2 small cucumber, peeled, trimmed, seeded, and cut into thin julienne strips

Steps:

In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook rice until tender. Drain, set aside, and keep warm.
In a food processor or blender, combine shallots, garlic, chopped cilantro, ginger, tamarind paste, anchovy, and brown sugar and puree until smooth.
In a soup pot, combine puree, cayenne, fish sauce, and clam juice and bring to a boil. Add fish and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add rice and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove soup from the heat and stir in lettuce, radishes, and snow peas. Ladle soup into bowls and serve sprinkled with scallions, cilantro leaves, and cucumber.