This easy, vibrant soup is inspired by a hot pot dinner I enjoyed recently in Flushing, New York. The server dropped a scoop of minced shrimp into a simmering broth and advised us to eat the shrimp balls immediately. They were meltingly tender and so simple.
Here I fortify store-bought chicken broth with fish sauce and aromatics—lemongrass, scallion, garlic, and ginger—to produce a deeply flavorful (but also quick and painless) base. Lean on your food processor to whiz together a shrimp mince in no time; as the seasoned shrimp balls gently poach, they soak up the soup flavors while simultaneously imparting their own sweetness to the broth. Bok choy is used here, but spinach or watercress works just as well. A generous squeeze of fresh lime at the end wakes up all of the wonderful flavors.
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What you’ll need
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Food Processor
$70 At Amazon
Medium Pot with Lid
$160 $150 At Amazon
Ladle
$38 At Amazon
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Recipe information
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Combine 1 lemongrass stalk, bottom third only, tough outer layers removed, 2 scallions, thinly sliced, 2 garlic cloves, smashed, one 1" piece ginger, peeled, left whole, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce, 2 Tbsp. fish sauce, and 2 tsp. honey in a medium pot. Pour in 1 quart low-sodium chicken broth and 1½ cups water and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, pulse 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled, deveined, in a food processor until mostly smooth; transfer to a small bowl. Mix in 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped, one 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped, 1 Tbsp. finely chopped cilantro, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, 2 Tbsp. water, and remaining 1 scallion, thinly sliced, until thoroughly combined.
Step 3
Using damp hands, roll shrimp mixture between your palms into golf-ball-size balls (about 1½"); transfer to a plate as you go.
Step 4
Remove lemongrass and ginger from broth; discard. Gently drop shrimp balls into broth; add 3 heads of baby bok choy (about 8 oz.), leaves separated, torn. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until shrimp balls are opaque throughout and bok choy is tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice and remaining 1 Tbsp. soy sauce; remove from heat.
Step 5
Ladle soup into bowls and serve with lime wedges.
