Spicy and Sour Shrimp Soup

Yield: 6 Servings
Categories: Soups, Vietnamese, Seafood
Stephen Ceideburg
2ozLump tamarind, or 2 tablespoons tamarind concentrate
1/2cBoiling water
8ozRaw shrimp, shelled and deveined
2Garlic cloves, chopped
1/4cPlus 1 ts nuoc mam (Vietnamese fish sauce)
Freshly ground pepper
2tbVegetable oil
2Shallots, thinly sliced
3Stalks fresh lemon grass, white bulb crushed and cut into 2-Inch sections
1lgRipe tomato, cored, seeded and cut into wedges
2tbSugar
1/4Fresh ripe pineapple, cored, cut into 1/4-inch slices and then cut crosswise into small chunks
1/2cFresh or canned bamboo shoots, drained and thinly sliced
1tsSalt
2Fresh red chili peppers, minced
1/2cFresh bean sprouts
1Scallion, thinly sliced
2tbShredded mint
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