Tom Yum soup is without a doubt delicious. However, for the health conscious, calories count and health aspects of the food also matter. So, how much is the Tom Yum soup calories and what are its health benefits? We’ll cover this topic in this post. We have also covered other version of Tom Yum-based products like Tom Yum noodle, Mama Tom Yum instant noodle and Tom Yum hotpot. Do check them out!
Table of Contents
Tom Yum soup calories breakdown
Approximately, there is ~355 calories per serving for creamy version and 270 per serving for clear broth for a serving of tom yum soup.
How do we come up with this breakdown? It is actually complicated to come up with this number as there are two types of Tom Yum, clear and creamy soup. Moreover, there are numerous Tom Yum variations like seafood, chicken etc.
In this article, we will be focusing on a clear and creamy variation of shrimp Tom Yum soup dish. For our measurement, we will be referring to this delicious looking recipe from Wongnai for a full bowl enough for 4 servings. We use:
- 600 grams of shrimp: ~830 calories
- 600 grams mushroom: ~130 calories
- 50 grams of shallot: 40 calories
- 1 tablespoon of sugar: 50 calories
- 2 tablespoon of fish sauce: 40 calories
- [For creamy soup] 1 tablespoon of Thai chili paste: ~200 calories
- [For creamy soup] 7 tablespoon of evaporated milk: ~130 calories
Hence, we can arrive at the following Tom Yum soup calories count: the creamy version has 1,420/4 = 355 calories per serving, while clear broth version has 270 per serving.
We also did not factor in calories from other herbal ingredients like lime, lemon grass, kaffir lime, galangal etc. This is because you do not typically eat the herbs in Tom Yum. Their main contribution is to add fragrance, taste and add some health benefit – more on this below.
Tom Yum soup's herbal properties
Tom Yum soup has these 5 main herbs:
- Ginger
- Kaffir lime
- Lemongrass
- Galangal
Ginger will give the fragrance and also add spiciness to the soup. Kaffir lime is for the sour taste of the soup and also the refreshing citrusy fragrance. Lemongrass and galangal are for the unique Tom Yum soup fragrance, they are very important in giving Tom Yum its distinctive aroma.
Being rich in herbs and spices, Tom Yum has a very rich, unique aroma that is popular among many. Therefore, no wonder that this recipe is also used in many other applications like Tom Yum noodle, hotpot as well as packaged instant noodle.
Is Tom Yum soup good for colds?
The herbs in Tom Yum may/may not have direct health benefits as cold remedies. However, if you have lost appetite or can not quite taste your food, Tom Yum soup might just be the dish for you. This is because the taste and the fragrance from the soup should be able to revive your appetite.
The herbal properties in Tom Yum soup, however, might alleviate the sickness (but will not essentially cure it). Ginger, galangal and lemongrass all have some anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties are essential in helping our body to recover from sickness.
Is Tom Yum soup good for colds then? To a certain extent yes, it is soothing and an amazing comfort food when you are sick. Also, its strong aroma can revive the appetite that you often lose when you are suffering from colds. However, we will not say it will cure the colds. Generally speaking, having nutritious meal, water intake and sufficient rest is always key to speedy recovery when you are not feeling well.
Is Tom Yum soup healthy?
Yes, it is healthy to consume Tom Yum soup. It is not high in calories and it is rich in herbs and spices. Herbs and spices have a lot of proven health benefits for us. However, as mentioned there are a lot of variations of Tom Yum soup. If you have certain conditions, you might need to tweak your Tom Yum ingredients. For example, if you have high cholesterol, you might want to add more fish and lessen the amount of squid and shrimp.
In conclusion, Tom Yum is a highly customizable dish. Therefore, you can make it suit your health needs!
Learn more about Thailand with us:
- Google Maps Thailand: Our Tips & Experience Using It
- Calories of Thai Papaya Salad: Is Som Tum Healthy?
- Thai coconut cake and other traditional coconut desserts
- Thai green mango: types and how to enjoy this sour mango
- Pad Kee Mao Calories & Nutrition
- Tom Kha Soup Calories & Vegetarian Option
- Tom Kha vs Tom Yum: Similarities & Differences