Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup with Noodles and Thai Herbs

INGREDIENTS

• 3 teaspoons sugar
• 1/3 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
• 8-ounces dried rice noodles (flat, fettuccine-shaped)
• 1/4 cup whole fresh cilantro leaves
• 6 thin slices fresh galangal or fresh ginger
• 1/4 cup Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce
• 6 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 quarts chicken stock, preferably fresh
• 5 shallots, sliced
• 1/4 cup lightly chopped Asian basil leaves
• 1 pound medium shrimp
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Few drops sesame oil
• 2 stalks lemongrass (bottom third only, sliced thinly on the bias)
• Salt
• 4 small serrano chile peppers, coarsely shredded, including seeds