Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1              pound  prawns -- 25-30 count
                        -- shelled and
                        -- deveined, (save
                        shells)
  3             cloves  garlic -- crushed
  6                     kaffir leaves -- * see note
  6        tablespoons  lemon juice
  6        tablespoons  thai fish sauce
  1              stalk  fresh lemon grass -- **see note
  1           teaspoon  sugar
                        ground thai red chili pepper -- to taste
     1/2           cup  straw mushrooms
     1/4           cup  cilantro -- coarsely chopped

Preparation:

1. Remove shells from prawns and rinse. Put shells in a pot and add enough water to cover them. Cover pot, bring mixture to boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain. this is the broth which can be set aside. 2. Combine garlic, kaffir leaves, lemon juice, Thai fish sauce, lemon grass, sugar and chili pepper. (Sauce can be made several days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.) 3. Bring soup stock to a boil, add prawns, mushrooms, and basic sauce. Bring to boil briefly until prawns cook. Garnish with cilantro.

Nutritional Information:

21 Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat; (3% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 30mg Sodium