Hot and Sour Soup - A Chinese Takeout "Standard"
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5
661 reviews
Excellent
Hot and Sour Soup - A Chinese Takeout "Standard"
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Hot and Sour Soup combines julienned pork, dried mushrooms and lily flowers, bamboo shoots, tofu, and egg in a flavorful broth enhanced with soy sauces, vinegar, white pepper, and sesame oil. The soup features a balance of spice, tang, and umami, with a variety of textures from soft tofu to crunchy bamboo shoots and tender mushrooms, reflecting a classic takeout style of this popular Chinese soup.
Description
This Hot and Sour Soup starts by marinating finely julienned pork shoulder with water, salt, vegetable oil, and cornstarch to tenderize and season the meat. Dried shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and lily flowers are soaked and prepared to add earthiness and texture, while firm and spiced tofu provide silkiness and mild richness. Bamboo shoots add crunch and freshness to the mix.
The broth is built using chicken stock seasoned with salt, sugar, white pepper, and a combination of light and dark soy sauces for depth. Vinegar lends the characteristic sour note, balanced with a touch of sesame oil and optional minced dried chili for heat. A beaten egg is slowly drizzled in to form silky egg ribbons, enhancing the soup's texture.
Scallions finish the soup to add a fresh herbal note. The final assembly layers distinct flavors and varied textures into a comforting, savory soup widely served in Chinese restaurants and enjoyed as a starter or light meal.
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Ingredients
For the pork & marinade:
- 4 oz. pork shoulder (finely julienned)
- 1 tablespoon water
- Pinch salt
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For the soup:
- 1 to 2 red chili pepper optional, dried
- 0.3 ounce dried lily flower (rehydrated, ½ cup after rehydrating)
- 0.3 ounce dried wood ear mushroom 1/2 cup after rehydrating & slicing
- 0.3 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms (1/2 cup after rehydrating & slicing)
- 3 ounces tofu spiced, dry
- 4 ounces tofu fresh, firm
- 4 ounces bamboo shoots
- 1 egg large
- 1 scallion (finely diced)
- 8 cups chicken stock low sodium
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons ground white pepper or to taste, fresh
- 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce or mushroom soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce or seasoned soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/3 to ½ cup white vinegar
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
Prepare your pork:
- Combine the 4 oz. julienned pork shoulder with 1 tablespoon water until the meat has absorbed the water. Add a pinch of salt, 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch and mix until combined. Set aside.
Prepare your dry ingredients:
- Cut the dried chilies in half and discard the seeds. Mince them up and set aside.
- In separate bowls, soak the dried lily flowers, wood ears, and shiitake mushrooms in 1 cup of water each for 1-2 hours, until hydrated. Using hot water (like you’re brewing tea) will significantly speed up the process.
- Once they’re ready, thinly slice the mushrooms and give the wood ears a rough chop. Trim the tough ends off the lily flowers and cut them in half.
Prepare the tofu and the rest of the ingredients:
- Cut both the spiced tofu and the firm tofu into 2-inch long and ¼-inch thick pieces. Julienne the bamboo shoots. Beat the egg in a small bowl. Wash and chop the scallion and set aside.
Assemble the soup:
- Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a wok or pot. If the pork has clumped and stuck together, it is best to add another tablespoon of water to loosen it up before adding it to the soup.
- Stir in the pork and quickly break up any clumps that may form. Once the soup is simmering again, skim off any foam that floats to the top with a fine meshed strainer.
- Add the salt, sugar, dried chili pepper (if using), white pepper, both soy sauces, and sesame oil.
- Next, add the lily flowers, wood ears, shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots and bring the soup to a simmer once again.
- Next, add the two kinds of tofu and the vinegar and stir. It should start to look and smell like the real thing about now!
- Combine the ⅓ cup cornstarch with ¼ cup water to make a slurry. Ensure it’s well-combined, as the cornstarch tends to settle to the bottom of the bowl.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and use your soup ladle to stir the soup in a steady circular motion to make a whirlpool while slowly drizzling in the cornstarch slurry. This prevents the cornstarch from clumping. Stop when you’re about ¾ of the way done with your slurry and keep stirring until the soup comes back up to a simmer.
- Check the consistency of the soup, as it should be thick enough to coat your spoon or ladle. Add the rest of the cornstarch slurry if you like it thicker.
Adjust seasoning:
- Once the soup is the thickness you prefer, use a spoon to check its flavor and adjust things to your own personal preference. Add more white pepper if you like it hot and add more vinegar if like it sour! White pepper gives the soup its signature heat, and the vinegar levels can be adjusted according to how sour you like your hot and sour soup.
- Keep the soup simmering (it should be bubbling before you add the egg, or the soup will turn cloudy when the egg is added), and begin stirring in a circular motion with your ladle once again. Once you get the soup moving in a slowly swirling motion, slowly drizzle the beaten egg into the soup.
- Serve your hot and sour soup garnished with chopped scallions!
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
189kcal
(9%)
Carbohydrates
17g
(6%)
Protein
15g
(30%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
40mg
(13%)
Sodium
606mg
(25%)
Potassium
455mg
(10%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
125IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
0.9mg
(1%)
Calcium
52mg
(5%)
Iron
1.8mg
(10%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 189 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 189kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 17g | 6% |
| Protein | 15g | 30% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 40mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 606mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 455mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 125IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 0.9mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 52mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1.8mg | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
661 reviews
Excellent
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