Description
Make this quick and flavorful hot and sour soup at home. It achieves the perfect balance of tangy vinegar and spice, rivaling your favorite takeout version.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce (for color)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (or more to taste)
- 4 ounces firm tofu, cut into small matchsticks
- 1/2 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms
- 1/2 cup sliced bamboo shoots
- 1/4 cup shredded carrot
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons cold water (slurry)
- 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and chili garlic sauce in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and carrot to the boiling broth. Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering soup while stirring constantly until the soup thickens slightly.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Slowly drizzle the beaten eggs into the soup in a thin stream while gently stirring in one direction to create ribbons. Do not stir vigorously after adding the eggs.
- Taste the soup and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more vinegar for tang or chili sauce for heat.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with sliced green onions before serving hot.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and ensure your soy sauce is vegetarian-friendly.
- If you prefer a thicker soup, increase the cornstarch slurry slightly.
- Use white pepper for the traditional flavor; black pepper changes the taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 950
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 75