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.

Course Soup

Cuisine Asian, Chinese

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 107kcal

Author Tracy O.

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.

Video

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