Hot and sour soup is a popular Chinese soup that is savory, spicy, and tangy. It typically contains a variety of ingredients, such as mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, and silky egg ribbons, in a thickened broth. The soup is often made with chicken, but it can also be made with pork, shrimp, or beef, or even left without meat for a vegetarian version. The flavor of the soup can be adjusted to your preference by adding more white pepper for spice or vinegar for tanginess.
Some common ingredients in hot and sour soup include:
- Chicken or other protein (pork, shrimp, beef, or tofu)
- Mushrooms and bamboo shoots
- Tofu
- Silky egg ribbons
- Green onions
- Soy sauce and rice wine vinegar
- White pepper
- Cornstarch to thicken the broth
To make hot and sour soup, first prepare the ingredients by cutting them into small pieces and setting aside. Then, heat a large stockpot with some oil and add the ingredients one by one, stirring as you go. Once all the ingredients are in the pot, add the broth and bring it to a simmer. While the soup is heating, whisk together some cornstarch and a small amount of broth in a separate bowl, then stir the mixture into the soup to thicken it. Finally, drizzle in the eggs in a thin stream while stirring the soup to create egg ribbons, then add the tofu and green onions. Season the soup with salt and white pepper to taste, and adjust the spiciness and tanginess as desired.
