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    Home » Soups » Easy Hot and Sour Soup

    Easy Hot and Sour Soup

    Published: Feb 23, 2021 Modified: Feb 23, 2021 by Tracy O.This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Hot and sour soup (酸辣湯) is a popular soup among Chinese restaurants in the states. This low calories, authentic and easy hot & sour soup recipe is a must try one! 

    Love authentic soups? Check out these sweet corn carrot soup, tomato potato soup and watercress pork soup recipes.

    Chinese hot and sour soup on the spoon

    What is hot and sour soup (酸辣湯)?

    Hot and sour soup (酸辣湯) is originated from northern part of China. Also, Sichuan hot and sour soup is well known for spicy, sour, salty and tasty.

    Besides, hot and sour soup helps with digestion and increases appetite. Hence, when people don’t have much appetite, they will drink this soup. The taste of hot is from spicy chili pepper and sour from black vinegar.

    When I was pregnant, I wasn’t feeling well because of the morning sickness. The only thing I craved for was hot and sour soup!

    What are the ingredients in hot and sour soup (酸辣湯)?

    authentic Chinese hot and sour soup ingredients

    In general, Chinese authentic hot and sour soup usually contains wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tofu, and black dry Chinese mushrooms. Some like to add meat. However, I like this easy hot sour soup recipe without meat. 

    What is a wood ear?

    Wood ear is a species of edible fungus or mushrooms type. They are distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brownish color. Moreover, it grows on wood. Therefore, it was named wood ear.

    dried wood ear mushrooms

    Not only wood ear fungus is a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, but also it has some health benefits such as anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol lowering properties. Generally, wood ear fungus are in dry form and require soaking before using it.

    soaked wood ear mushrooms or fungus

    Cooking tips for how to make easy hot and sour soup:

    • Wash and soak black Chinese mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms a few hours before. (Black Chinese mushrooms take a little longer. Normally, I will soak them before I go to bed, so I can use them in the morning or so.)
    • Remember to add garlic chili sauce to your taste. I suggest adding ½ tablespoons at a time. 
    • I use firm tofu because it does not break easily when stirred.

    FAQs:

    Can you refrigerate hot sour soup?

    Yes, you can refrigerate them for a few days.

    Can I eat hot sour soup when pregnant?

    It depends on your health and body because wood ear has some sort of anticoagulant better to consult with your doctor or just not add it.

    How do you thicken the soup?

    Mix cornstarch and water in a small container. Then, pour the cornstarch mixture into the soup and continue to stir it. After that, the soup will slowly thicken.

    Can I use white vinegar instead of black vinegar?

    Yes, you can. But, the taste is slightly different and you need to taste and adjust it.

    How many calories in the soup?

    This soup has only 104 calories per serving.

    Instructions for how to make authentic and easy hot and sour soup:

    soaking dried Chinese black mushrooms in a bowl

    Preparation:

    1. Wash and soak 3 medium sized black Chinese mushrooms for 4-6 hours before. (Black Chinese mushrooms take a little longer. Therefore, I will soak them before I go to bed, so I can use them in the morning or so.)
    soaking dried wood ear mushrooms in a bowl

    2. Then, wash and soak 12 small dried wood ear mushrooms for a couple hours. (Normally, I will soak them before I go to bed. So, I can use them in the morning or so.)

    slices soaked mushrooms

    3. After that, cut soaked black Chinese mushrooms into small strips.

    cut soaked wood ear mushrooms into strips

    4.  Next, cut the soaked wood ear fungus into small strips.

    cut firm tofu into strips

    5. Cut 1 pieces of firm tofu into small strips.

    bamboo shoots cut into strips

    6. A can of 8 oz bamboo shoots cut into small strips.

    green onion cut into pieces

    7. Cut 2 sticks of green onion.

    Chicken broth into the pot over the stove

    Cooking:

    8. Pour 4 cups chicken broth and 2 cups water into a pot and turn on fire to medium-high.

    mushrooms into the broth in the pot

    9. Add the cut Chinese black mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms into the broth.

    bamboo shoots and mushrooms into the broth

    10. The following, add the bamboo shoots into the broth. Let it cook until it's boiling.

    sauce and ingredients in the pot boiling

    11. When it's boiling, add 1.5 tablespoons of garlic chili sauce, 2.5 tablespoons of black vinegar, ⅛ teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. Then, mix it well.

    tofu added into hot and sour soup

    12. After, add the cut firm tofu strips.

    corn starch mixture in a glass container

    13.  At the same time, in a small container add 5 tablespoons of water and 4 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix it well.

    hot and sour soup thicken the soup with cornstarch

    14. When the soup boils again, add cornstarch mixture to thicken the soup a little bit.

    green onion added into the hot and sour soup

    15. Sprinkle some green onions on top. If you like, you can add white pepper and sesame oil. This is optional.

    a scoop of hot and sour soup on a white spoon

    Enjoy this low calories, authentic and easy hot & sour soup recipe! Also, check out these Chinese borscht soup, lotus roots pork soup, green radish carrot soup and dried bok choy soup recipes.

    authentic hot and sour soup close up on the spoon

    You May Also Like These Recipes:

    • WONTON SOUP (雲吞湯)
    • GINSENG CHICKEN SOUP (SAMGYETANG) 삼계탕 蔘鷄湯
    • KIMCHI TOFU SOUP (SUNDUBU-JJIGAE)
    • MISO SOUP

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    Authentic Chinese hot and sour soup on the spoon

    Hot and Sour Soup

    Hot and sour soup is originated from northern part of China. Also, Sichuan hot and sour soup is well known for spicy, sour, salty and tasty. In general, Chinese hot and sour soup usually contains ingredients such as wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tofu, and black Chinese mushrooms. 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 107kcal
    Author: Tracy O.

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 1 small piece Firm Tofu
    • 1 small can Bamboo shoots 8oz (cup up around ½ cup)
    • 12 small Black dry wood ear mushrooms (cut up around ½ cup)
    • 3 medium size Dry black Chinese mushrooms (cut up around ½ cup)
    • 1.5 tablespoons Lee Kum Kee garlic chili sauce (add spicy to your taste)
    • 2.5 tablespoons Black vinegar
    • 4 cups Chicken broth
    • 2 cups Water
    • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
    • ⅛ teaspoon Salt
    • 2 sticks Green onion
    • Sesame oil (optional some)
    • White pepper (optional sprinkles to your taste )

    THICKEN SOUP:

    • 4 tablespoons Corn starch
    • 5 tablespoons Water

    Instructions

    • Wash and soak 3 medium sized black Chinese mushrooms for 4-6 hours before. (Black Chinese mushrooms take a little longer. Therefore, I will soak them before I go to bed, so I can use them in the morning or so.)
    • Then, wash and soak 12 small dried wood ear mushrooms for a couple hours. (Normally, I will soak them before I go to bed. So, I can use them in the morning or so.)
    • After that, cut soaked black Chinese mushrooms into small strips.
    • Next, cut the soaked wood ear fungus into small strips.
    • Cut 1 pieces of firm tofu into small strips.
    • A can of 8 oz bamboo shoots cut into small strips.
    • Cut 2 sticks of green onion.
    • Pour 4 cups chicken broth and 2 cups water into a pot and turn on fire to medium-high.
    • Add the cut Chinese black mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms into the broth.
    • The following, add the bamboo shoots into the broth. Let it cook until it's boiling.
    • When it's boiling, add 1.5 tablespoons of garlic chili sauce, 2.5 tablespoons of black vinegar, ⅛ teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. Then, mix it well.
    • After, add the cut firm tofu strips.
    • At the same time, in a small container add 5 tablespoons of water and 4 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix it well.
    • When the soup boils again, add cornstarch mixture to thicken the soup a little bit.
    • Sprinkle some green onions on top. If you like, you can add white pepper and sesame oil. This is optional.

    Notes

    Cooking tips for how to make easy hot and sour soup:

    • Wash and soak black Chinese mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms a few hours before. (Black Chinese mushrooms take a little longer. Normally, I will soak them before I go to bed, so I can use them in the morning or so.)
    • Remember to add garlic chili sauce to your taste. I suggest adding ½ tablespoons at a time. 
    • I use firm tofu because it does not break easily when stirred.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1009mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Welcome to Oh My Food Recipes, where you can find inspiration for meals or dinner ideas specialty Asian cuisines. Oh My Food Recipes is tried and tested recipes with step by step photo tutorials.... Read more!

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