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Chinese Style Hot and Sour Soup Recipe

Chinese Style Hot and Sour Soup Recipe
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★★★★★

5.3 from 7 reviews

This Chinese Style Hot and Sour Soup is a deliciously tangy and spicy soup featuring shiitake mushrooms, firm tofu, and fresh vegetables in a flavorful chicken or vegetable broth. Perfectly balanced with rice vinegar, soy sauce, and a hint of chili paste, this classic soup is easy to prepare and comforting for any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Broth and Base

  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chili paste
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetables and Protein

  • 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 cup firm tofu, cubed
  • 1/4 cup bamboo shoots, julienned
  • 1/4 cup carrots, shredded
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 large egg, beaten

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients including broth, mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, carrots, green onions, and all seasonings. Wash and chop the vegetables and tofu as specified to ensure even cooking.
  2. Heat the Broth: Pour the chicken or vegetable broth into a large pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat. This will be the base of your soup.
  3. Add Vegetables and Tofu: Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms, cubed tofu, julienned bamboo shoots, and shredded carrots into the boiling broth. Let it simmer gently for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.
  4. Season the Soup: Stir in the rice vinegar, soy sauce, and chili paste. These ingredients contribute the characteristic hot and sour flavor. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as needed.
  5. Thicken the Soup: Prepare a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with water. Slowly pour this slurry into the simmering soup while stirring continuously. This helps thicken the soup to a pleasant consistency.
  6. Add the Egg: Reduce the heat to low. Slowly drizzle the beaten egg into the soup in a thin stream while stirring gently to create silky egg ribbons throughout the soup.
  7. Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with chopped green onions for fresh flavor and crunch. Serve immediately for the best taste experience.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  • Adjust the amount of chili paste to control the spiciness of the soup.
  • To make it gluten-free, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce.
  • The cornstarch slurry is essential for thickening; do not skip this to maintain traditional texture.
  • Egg addition should be done slowly to ensure beautiful egg ribbons instead of clumps.

Nutrition

Keywords: Hot and Sour Soup, Chinese Soup, Shiitake Mushroom Soup, Tofu Soup, Spicy Soup, Vegetarian Soup

Find it online: https://lucabites.com/chinese-style-hot-and-sour-soup-recipe/