Hot and Sour Chicken Soup
- 8 cups water
- 6 tablespoons tamarind paste
- 6 tablespoons hot water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 3 stalks celery or zuiki taro stems*, cut into 1 to 2-inch strips
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 to 2-inch strips
- 3 large shallots, sliced
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Bean sprouts for garnish
- Chopped cinnamon basil for garnish
- 1 to 2 Hawaiian or Thai chili peppers, thinly sliced (optional)