Hot ‘N Sour Soup

Servings: 2 cups Difficulty: Advanced
A classic Chinese-style soup balancing tangy vinegar and spicy pepper with silky textures.
Hot 'N Sour Soup recipe image

Hot ‘N Sour Soup

Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 2 cups Calories: 110
Dietary:

Description

This traditional Hot and Sour Soup is a comforting bowl of complex flavors, featuring tender shreds of pork, wood ear mushrooms, and bamboo shoots in a rich, savory broth. The signature taste comes from the perfect balance of sharp white vinegar and white pepper, creating a warming sensation that is ideal for chilly evenings. Silk ribbons of beaten egg swirl through the thickened stock, while a final drizzle of sesame oil adds aromatic depth. It is a quick yet sophisticated dish that brings restaurant-quality flavor to your home kitchen.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, cover the dried Chinese mushrooms with 1/2 cup of warm water and let them soak for 30 minutes until softened.
  2. Drain the mushrooms, discarding the soaking water.
  3. Using a knife, cut away and discard the tough stems of the mushrooms.
  4. Shred the mushroom caps by slicing them horizontally into paper-thin slices, then cutting those slices into thin strips.
  5. Drain the canned bamboo shoots and rinse them in cold water.
  6. Shred the bamboo shoots and the Chinese bean curd (tofu) into strips as fine as the mushrooms.
  7. Trim all fat from the boneless pork.
  8. Slice the pork as thinly as possible, then cut the slices into narrow strips about 1-1/2 to 2 inches long.
  9. In a heavy 3-quart saucepan, combine the chicken stock, salt, soy sauce, shredded mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and pork strips.
  10. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
  11. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 3 minutes.
  12. Drop in the shredded bean curd, ground white pepper, and white vinegar.
  13. Bring the soup back to a boil.
  14. Give the cornstarch and cold water mixture a stir to recombine, then pour it into the boiling soup.
  15. Stir constantly for a few seconds until the soup thickens.
  16. Slowly pour in the beaten egg while stirring gently to create silky ribbons.
  17. Remove the soup from the heat.
  18. Ladle the soup into a tureen or serving bowls.
  19. Stir in the sesame seed oil and sprinkle the top with chopped scallions.
  20. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 2 cups


Amount Per Serving
Calories 110kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 3.5g6%
Saturated Fat 1.2g6%
Cholesterol 55mg19%
Sodium 450mg19%
Total Carbohydrate 8.0g3%
Dietary Fiber 1.0g4%
Sugars 1.5g
Protein 12.0g24%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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