You have to try this easy hot and sour soup recipe! This is a fantastic soup that is vegetarian if you desire. Try it!
This hot and sour soup recipe is one of my favorite soups to order when I go out to eat for chinese food. I love the contrast between the spicy and the sour. Normally you have a wide range of vegetables in the soup including mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tofu, and green onion to name a few.
I added some baby corn and water chestnuts to mine just because I had them in my pantry and for a little crunch. This recipe is great for the long winter days that seem to never end. The recipe is straightforward and doesn't take all day to make. Here is the hot and soup recipe, I hope you enjoy it!
Hot and Sour Soup
Hot and Sour
- 1 whole onion (sliced)
- 4 oz mushrooms (beech or shitake)
- 1 tbsp ginger (minced)
- 1 tbsp garlic
- 2 tbsp sambal
- 1/4 cup black vinegar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 qt chicken stock
- 1 qt mushroom stock (You can use all chicken or all mushroom if you want to keep it vegetarian)
Vegetables for soup
- 8 oz baby corn (sliced)
- 4 oz water chestnuts (sliced)
- 1/2 cup bamboo shoots
- 4 whole eggs
- 3 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp cornstarch (3 tbsp water)
- 1 salt (to taste if need be)
Mushroom Stock
- 8 oz shiitake mushrooms (dried (or fresh))
- 1 cup mushroom (scraps, stems)
- 2 qt water
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 whole shallot
Garnish
- 1/4 cup green onion (chopped)
- 2 cups wontons (fried)
For the Mushroom Stock
-
Add all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and reduce by half or until you have a strong mushroom flavored stock. Strain off and set aside
For the Soup
-
In a soup pot on medium high add sesame oil, ginger, and onion. Saute for 2 minutes and then add garlic and mushrooms. Cook for 2 more minutes and then add both of the vinegars. Reduce them by half and then add your stock (chicken and mushroom) and soy sauce. Take your eggs and whisk like your going to make scrambled eggs. Bring the stock to a boil.
Place a fine mesh strainer over the soup and pour your eggs into the the strainer over the soup. Push the eggs through the strainer into the boiling soup. This will give you the egg texture in the soup that is the same as egg drop. Add your bamboo shoots, corn, water chestnuts, and sambal. Cook for 3 minutes and then add your corn starch. Cook for 5 more minutes and Season the soup the with a little salt if and sugar if needed. Finish the soup with green onions and fried wonton skins. Serve and enjoy!