Delicious Hot and sour soup recipe

Hot and sour soup is a traditional Sichuan-style snack known for its distinctive flavors of sourness, spiciness, saltiness, freshness, and aroma. As a traditional Chinese delicacy, hot and sour soup not only offers a unique taste and flavor but also embodies rich cultural significance and emotional memories.

4 Reviews
4 Comments
POSTED:11/07/2024
Level:Easy
Yield:1-2 servings
Total:30 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:3 min

In life, we all encounter times when we lose our appetite, which can be quite uncomfortable. During these moments, what we crave most is to enjoy some appetizing and tangy dishes that can awaken our taste buds and stimulate our appetite. Today, I want to introduce you to just such a dish that meets these needs—hot and sour soup.


1.What is hot and sour soup?

Hot and sour soup is a Sichuan-style snack, characterized by its simple ingredients and rich nutrition. It typically includes tofu, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and other vegetables, seasoned with salt, vinegar, pepper, and other spices. The soup's distinctive features are its sour, spicy, salty, fresh, and aromatic flavors. It can be enjoyed both before and after meals and is beloved for its unique tangy and spicy taste.


2.What spices are used in hot and sour soup?

①White pepper plays a crucial role in hot and sour soup, providing the source of spiciness. It not only enhances the soup's texture but also complements other seasonings, achieving a harmonious taste experience.

②Vinegar plays a crucial role in hot and sour soup, serving as the main source of sourness. During the cooking process, vinegar not only increases the soup's acidity but also interacts with other seasonings such as soy sauce and white pepper to balance the soup's overall taste and texture.


3.What vegetables are used in hot and sour soup?

①In various hot and sour soup recipes, black wood ear mushrooms are commonly listed as a primary ingredient. They not only enhance the soup's texture but also impart a distinctive flavor to the dish. When preparing hot and sour soup, the wood ear mushrooms need to be soaked in cold water until soft, then blanched in boiling water for 15 minutes to ensure they are tender and smooth.

②Shiitake mushrooms are an indispensable ingredient in hot and sour soup. They not only enhance the broth's richness but also contribute a unique aroma to the dish.

There are also many other ingredients that can be added according to personal preference when making hot and sour soup.


4.How many calories are in hot and sour soup?

Hot and sour soup typically contains between 30-40 calories per 100 grams. This calorie range suggests that hot and sour soup is a low-calorie food. However, if it includes added oils or other high-calorie ingredients during preparation, its calorie content may increase. Therefore, moderation is key when enjoying this delicious snack.


5.Where can I buy the ingredients?

These ingredients can be found in the dry goods section of Chinese/Asian grocery stores as well as major online shopping platforms like Amazon.


Making hot and sour soup is very simple, using ingredients that are commonly found in our daily lives. So, if you enjoy the tangy and spicy flavor, be sure not to miss out on this hot and sour soup! Give it a try soon, and I believe you will absolutely love it!

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 1 block of soft tofu
  • 30g black fungus (wood ear mushrooms)
  • 80g enoki mushrooms
  • 1 sausage link
  • 1 egg
  • 4 shiitake mushrooms

SEASONINGS

  • 10g light soy sauce
  • 3g white pepper powder
  • 90g water mixed with cornstarch (to make a slurry)
  • 20g black vinegar
  • 6g salt

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

First, prepare the main ingredients. Wash them thoroughly, and soak the black fungus in advance.

Tip:

To save time, you can soak the black fungus in warm or hot water. It should be ready to use in about fifteen minutes.

Tips for preparing main ingredients like black fungus for a recipe.

STEP 2

First, prepare the hot and sour sauce. Mix 3g of white pepper powder and 20g of black vinegar in a bowl until well combined. Set aside for later use.

Prepare hot and sour sauce: Mix white pepper powder and black vinegar for use later.

STEP 3

Cut the soft tofu into thin slices. Bring water to a boil in a pot, then add the slices of soft tofu and bring to a boil again.

Boil thin slices of soft tofu in water to cook.

STEP 4

Slice the shiitake mushrooms and sausage into thin strips and add them to the pot. Cook for about 30 seconds.

Slice shiitake mushrooms and sausage into thin strips, cook for 30 seconds.

STEP 5

Add 10g of light soy sauce for seasoning and color enhancement.

Season and enhance color by adding 10g light soy sauce.

STEP 6

Add 80g of enoki mushrooms, 30g of black fungus, pour in the 90g of water mixed with cornstarch (to thicken the soup), and gently add the beaten egg into the pot. Bring to a boil.

Tip:

①Using water mixed with cornstarch (cornstarch slurry) helps thicken the soup. When adding the slurry, pour it slowly while stirring gently to avoid making the soup too thick, which could affect the texture.

②When adding the beaten egg, pour it slowly into the pot while stirring gently with chopsticks. This technique helps the egg form into silky strands in the soup, resulting in a smoother texture and enhancing the overall taste of the hot and sour soup.

Add mushrooms & black fungus, pour water with cornstarch, add beaten egg. Tips to thicken & enhance texture.

STEP 7

Add 6g of salt and the prepared hot and sour sauce mixture to the pot. Bring to a boil.

Add salt and hot/sour sauce to pot, then bring to boil.

STEP 8

Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove. Your delicious hot and sour soup, with its complete colors and flavors, is now ready.

Tip:

Throughout the process of making hot and sour soup, maintain high heat. After each step, ensure the mixture comes to a boil before proceeding. This technique helps to enhance the flavors.

Recipe for hot and sour soup: Maintain high heat, let mixture boil, and remove from stove when ready.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Delicious Hot and sour soup recipe
  • Main Ingredients:6
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:715 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 715 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):790 kcal
    36%
  • Protein:55.82 g
    102%
  • Fat:27.22 g Why gray?
    56%
  • Carbohydrates:100.49 g
    41%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 24%
    191 kcal
  • Fat: 29%
    231 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 47%
    367 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
7:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

4 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
GourmetGustoFiestaOctober 13, 2024

What if the tofu is overcooked and falls apart?
reply:
October 15, 2024
Try to control the cooking time of the tofu to maintain its texture and prevent it from becoming too crumbly.
EpicureanEuphoriaHubOctober 01, 2024

What temperature should I use to soak the black fungus?
reply:
October 03, 2024
You can use warm or hot water. It should be ready to use in about 15 minutes.
WilliamJuly 24, 2024

This hot and sour soup recipe is incredibly flavorful and authentic!
AnnaJuly 16, 2024

This Hot and sour soup recipe is great and tastes great!
NEVER MISS A RECIPE