Hot and Sour Soup
Hot and Sour Soup is a popular Chinese soup known for its spicy and tangy flavors. It typically includes a combination of vegetables, tofu, and sometimes meat, all cooked in a flavorful broth. This recipe is tailored to serve one person, making it a satisfying and warming meal option.
Ingredients
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 cup firm tofu, diced
- 2 tablespoons bamboo shoots, sliced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce or Sriracha (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Optional garnish: cilantro leaves
Instructions
- In a pot, bring the vegetable or chicken broth to a boil over medium heat.
- Add the sliced mushrooms, diced tofu, and bamboo shoots to the boiling broth. Cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce or Sriracha, grated ginger, sugar, sesame oil, and white pepper.
- Add the sauce mixture to the pot and stir well. Let the soup simmer for a couple of minutes.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Gradually add the slurry to the soup, stirring continuously until the soup thickens slightly.
- Slowly pour the beaten egg into the soup while stirring gently. This will create ribbons of cooked egg in the soup.
- Add the sliced green onions and cook for an additional minute. Remove from heat and garnish with cilantro leaves if desired.
- Serve the Hot and Sour Soup hot as an appetizer or as a light meal.
Note
- For a more flavorful broth, you can use homemade vegetable or chicken broth instead of store-bought. Simmering the broth with some aromatics like garlic, ginger, and onion before adding the other ingredients can enhance the flavors.
- If you prefer a heartier soup, you can add additional ingredients such as cooked shredded chicken, shrimp, or thinly sliced pork.
- Adjust the amount of chili garlic sauce or Sriracha according to your desired level of spiciness. You can start with a small amount and gradually add more if you prefer it hotter.