When it comes to comforting, flavorful, and well-rounded soups, few can rival the deep, satisfying complexity of Chinese Hot and Sour Soup. This iconic dish, with its tantalizing balance of heat, tang, and savory depth, is an absolute must-try for anyone who loves exploring the world of Chinese cuisine. Whether you’re enjoying it in a cozy Chinese restaurant or preparing it in your own kitchen, it’s a recipe that never fails to warm the heart and soul.
Hot and Sour Soup has been around for centuries, evolving through different regions of China and different culinary traditions. It’s a perfect combination of various tastes and textures-spicy from white pepper, tangy from vinegar, earthy from mushrooms, and smooth from the silky tofu. It offers everything in one bowl: the spiciness warms your palate, the sourness invigorates, and the richness makes each spoonful deeply satisfying. Ready to dive in? Let’s explore this classic recipe and its elements in more detail.
Chinese Hot And Sour Soup Recipe
This recipe is a traditional approach to making Chinese Hot and Sour Soup, using authentic ingredients that bring out all the bold flavors we love. The beauty of this dish lies in its flexibility-you can tweak the spice level, sourness, or add more ingredients to suit your preferences. But here’s the basic version you can follow:
Ingredients Needed
- Dried Shiitake mushrooms – 5-6 pieces, rehydrated (or fresh if you can find them)
- Firm tofu – 1 block, cut into thin strips
- Bamboo shoots – 1 cup, sliced
- Wood ear mushrooms – 1/2 cup, rehydrated
- Chicken or vegetable broth – 4 cups
- Rice vinegar – 1/4 cup (this gives the soup its signature sour punch)
- Soy sauce – 2-3 tablespoons
- White pepper – 1-2 teaspoons (depending on your spice preference)
- Cornstarch – 2 tablespoons, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water to form a slurry
- Sesame oil – 1 teaspoon (optional, for extra depth)
- Eggs – 2, lightly beaten
- Green onions – 2-3 stalks, chopped (for garnish)
- Cilantro – for garnish
- Chili paste or hot sauce – to taste (optional, if you like extra heat)
Cooking Instructions
Now, let’s talk about the process. Don’t be intimidated by the number of ingredients; this soup is actually quite simple to make once you know the steps!
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Prepare The Mushrooms
- If you’re using dried shiitake mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms, soak them in hot water for about 20-30 minutes until softened. Once softened, drain, and slice them into thin strips. Set them aside.
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Make The Broth
- In a large pot, combine your chicken or vegetable broth with soy sauce. Bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. This will form the base of the soup.
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Add The Mushrooms And Bamboo Shoots
- Toss in the sliced shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. Let these ingredients simmer in the broth for about 5 minutes. The flavors from the mushrooms will start to infuse the soup, giving it an earthy richness.
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Add The Tofu
- Gently add your tofu strips to the pot, allowing them to soak up all the delicious flavors. Simmer for another 3-5 minutes.
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Seasoning
- Stir in the rice vinegar, white pepper, and a little sesame oil if using. Taste it at this point to adjust the flavor. Want more heat? Add a bit of chili paste. Too sour? Add a bit more soy sauce.
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Thicken The Soup
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) to thicken the soup slightly. Let it simmer for another minute or two until the soup thickens to a velvety consistency.
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Add The Eggs
- Slowly drizzle the beaten eggs into the soup while stirring gently in a circular motion. This will create beautiful egg ribbons throughout the broth. Let it cook for another 1-2 minutes.
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Garnish And Serve
- Remove from heat and ladle into bowls. Garnish with freshly chopped green onions and cilantro. For a touch more heat, drizzle with a bit of chili oil or hot sauce.
Ingredient Insights
Now that we’ve walked through the recipe, let’s take a deeper look at the key ingredients that make Chinese Hot and Sour Soup so uniquely delicious.
- Shiitake Mushrooms: These mushrooms bring a deeply savory umami flavor to the soup. Their meaty texture also adds a great bite, making each spoonful rich and satisfying.
- Wood Ear Mushrooms: Often used in Chinese soups and stir-fries, wood ear mushrooms are prized for their crunchy texture, which contrasts beautifully with the soft tofu and mushrooms.
- Tofu: Soft or firm tofu works wonderfully in soups. Its subtle taste allows it to absorb the flavors of the broth while adding creaminess and body.
- Bamboo Shoots: With their mild, earthy flavor and crunchy texture, bamboo shoots balance the soup’s richness while offering a refreshing contrast.
- Rice Vinegar: This ingredient is the key to the soup’s signature tangy flavor. The acidity of rice vinegar helps brighten up the other elements and provides that unmistakable ’sour’ punch.
- White Pepper: Unlike black pepper, white pepper has a sharper, more aromatic heat. It’s a crucial element in creating the signature ’spicy’ kick of this soup without overwhelming it.
Expert Tips
To make sure your Chinese Hot and Sour Soup comes out perfect every time, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Adjusting Heat Levels: If you’re sensitive to spice, start with a small amount of white pepper and chili paste. You can always add more later, but it’s harder to take away the heat once it’s in there!
- Perfecting the Sourness: If you’re new to Hot and Sour Soup, start with a little less vinegar and taste test as you go. You can always add more to increase the tanginess, but be careful-too much vinegar can overpower the other flavors.
- Cornstarch Slurry: Adding the cornstarch slurry thickens the soup, but don’t add it all at once. Gradually pour it in while stirring, checking the consistency as you go.
- Egg Ribbons: To get beautiful egg ribbons, be sure your broth is simmering gently-not boiling-when you add the beaten eggs. Stir gently in a circular motion to create delicate ribbons.
Recipe Variations
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup is highly customizable. Here are a few variations you can try to personalize it further:
- Add Meat: For a non-vegetarian version, you can add thinly sliced chicken, pork, or even shrimp. Just make sure to add the protein at the same time you add the mushrooms, allowing it to cook through.
- Spicy Hot: If you love heat, toss in extra chili paste or chopped fresh chilies. You can also replace the white pepper with Sichuan peppercorns for a more intense numbing spice.
- Vegetarian Version: For a completely vegetarian recipe, just use vegetable broth and skip the meat-based additions. The flavors of the mushrooms and tofu will more than make up for it.
- Noodle Additions: Some people love adding thin rice noodles to the soup, which will make it heartier and even more filling. Just cook the noodles separately and add them in toward the end.
Final Words
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup is truly a dish that can be adapted to any taste, yet it remains deeply rooted in traditional flavors that have stood the test of time. Whether you prefer a spicy, sour, or balanced version, this soup has everything you need to satisfy both your appetite and your craving for bold, exciting flavors.