kaeng som phak bung phrik sod kab pla - sour fish soup

This is a simple hot and sour soup, made with the fish of your choice. 
In Thailand the vegetable is generally phak bung (swamp cabbage), but if 
you don't have that cabbage, kale, or even broccoli can be substituted 

-- 
ingredients 

for chili paste: 

3 tablespoons of finely sliced prik ki nu daeng (red birdeye or dynamite 
chilis) 
3 tablespoons of finely sliced shallots (purple onions) 
3 tablespoons crushed garlic 
1 tablespoon of kapi (fermented shrimp paste) 
a dash of fish sauce. 

for soup 

1 pound of fish, diced 
2 pounds of vegetables 
10 small tomatoes, skinned, seeded, and diced 
3 tablespoons of lime juice 
3 tablespoons of fish sauce 
3 tablespoons of tamarind juice (or rice vinegar if unavailable) 
3 tabelspoons of prik chi fa (green jalapenos) thinly sliced 
1 tablespoon of a sour hot sauce (such as Tabasco) 

-- 

method 

combine the ingredients for the chili paste to a fine even consistency. 

Wash and dice the fish. 

Place the fish in a bowl, add the lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind 
juice, Tabasco and chili paste, and leave to marinade for at least an 
hour. 

Bring two cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan or wok, and add 
the liquid from the marinading fish, then add the vegetables and boil 
for about two minutes. Adjust the flavour to taste (it should be a 
little salty and a little sour, and as hot as you desire it at this 
stage). 

Add the tomato and bring back to the boil 

Add the remaining ingredients, return to the boil, and stir occasionally 
until the fish is cooked.