Hot And Sour Soup

Hot and Sour Soup is a flavorful, tangy, and slightly spicy soup that’s a staple in Chinese cuisine. With its perfectly balanced combination of vinegar’s sourness and the heat from white pepper, this soup is a bold and comforting dish that’s perfect for chilly days or when you’re craving something with a kick. Made with ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and egg ribbons, Hot and Sour Soup is packed with texture and nutrition. Whether enjoyed as a starter or a light meal, this soup is easy to prepare at home and brings the authentic taste of a Chinese restaurant right to your table.

Ingredients

• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms (shiitake or wood ear mushrooms)
• 1/2 cup bamboo shoots, sliced
• 1/2 cup firm tofu, cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
• 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (for thickening)
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat the broth: In a large pot, bring the chicken or vegetable broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and tofu, and simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Season the soup: Stir in the rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and white pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your preference for sourness and heat.
3. Thicken the soup: Slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry and let the soup simmer for another 2-3 minutes, or until it begins to thicken.
4. Add the egg: While stirring the soup in a circular motion, slowly drizzle in the beaten egg to create silky egg ribbons.
5. Finish the soup: Stir in the sesame oil and half of the green onions. Remove from heat and ladle the soup into bowls.
6. Serve: Garnish with the remaining green onions and fresh cilantro if desired. Serve hot.

This Hot and Sour Soup is a bold, tangy, and spicy dish that’s easy to make and perfect for warming up on a chilly day, bringing a delicious balance of flavors to your table!