Ingredients:
For the soup:
1 poundtomatoes of choice (about 4 medium-sized), cleaned
1/2 poundkabocha squash, skin and seeds removed (yields about ⅓ pound)
2 small carrots, skin removed
2 small shallots, skin removed
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 red jalapeños or Thai chiles (add more for a spicier soup), cleaned
1 small knob galangal, skin removed then bruised with the back of a knife or pestle
1 stalk lemongrass, white part only, bruised
1 (1-inch) slice ginger
Neutral oil
Salt, to taste
3 1/2 cupsvegetable broth
2-3 lime leaves, chiffonade with stems removed (optional)
For the toppings:
7 ouncesfirm tofu, drained and sliced into 1-inch-wide rectangles
1 tablespoontom yum paste
1 tablespoonneutral oil
Crispy wontons or noodle strips
Sprigs of fresh cilantro
Chile oil with sediment
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Prepare the vegetables: Once the vegetables are cleaned, be sure to pat them dry so they will roast and char better. Cut the kabocha squash and carrot into uniform pieces so they cook evenly. Place the prepared vegetables, whole tomatoes, whole shallots, garlic cloves, chile peppers, galangal, and ginger on a sheet pan. Then, generously toss them with oil and season with salt. Spread them out to give the vegetables space so more areas are exposed to the heat. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the kabocha is soft and the tomato starts to blister. Turn the broiler to low and broil for another 5 to 8 minutes to char the vegetables. Keep an eye on the spices as they cook and remove them earlier if they brown too quickly.
While the vegetables are in the oven, prepare the tofu: Using your fingers, rub the tofu pieces with tom yum paste until well coated. Add the neutral oil to a non-stick pan set over medium-high heat. Arrange the tofu in one layer (slightly apart) and pan-fry until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.
Transfer the cooked vegetables and spices to a high-speed blender along with the vegetable broth and lime leaves, if using. Blend to your desired thickness—I used the Braun TriForce Power Blender’s Soup function on the Smooth setting, which heats up the soup as it blends and gets the texture that I love. Season with salt, if needed.
To serve, place tofu in a bowl and ladle the soup over. Finish off with crispy wonton strips, cilantro, and a drizzle of chile oil.