Print

Authentic Chinese Hot and Sour Soup Recipe for Cozy Comfort Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 111 reviews

This Authentic Chinese Hot and Sour Soup is a comforting, flavorful dish known for its perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and savory notes. Made with a rich chicken broth base, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and silky tofu, it incorporates classic Chinese ingredients with a velvety texture from beaten eggs and a touch of heat from chili paste. Ideal for cozy meals, it’s easily adaptable to vegetarian and gluten-free diets by substituting key ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

Broth and Base

  • 4 cups Chicken Broth (Substitute with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version)
  • 3 tablespoons Soy Sauce (Use tamari for gluten-free)
  • 2 tablespoons Black Vinegar (Substitute with rice vinegar for a milder flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon White Pepper (Adjust according to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon Chili Paste or Dried Chili (Adjust for desired heat)
  • 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil (Essential for authentic taste)

Vegetables and Tofu

  • 1 cup Shiitake Mushrooms, sliced (Substitute with cremini or button mushrooms if shiitakes are unavailable)
  • 1 cup Bamboo Shoots, julienned (Use water chestnuts as an alternative)
  • 2 stalks Green Onions, sliced (For garnish)
  • 1 block Tofu, firm or silken, cut into strips

Thickener and Eggs

  • 2 tablespoons Cornstarch (Used to thicken the soup)
  • 2 large Eggs, whisked and drizzled into the soup

Instructions

  1. Heat the Broth: Pour the chicken broth into a large pot and heat it over medium-high heat until it reaches a rolling boil, preparing the base for the soup.
  2. Add Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots: Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and julienned bamboo shoots to the boiling broth. Let them simmer gently for about 5 minutes until they become tender and release their flavors.
  3. Season the Soup: Stir in the soy sauce, black vinegar, white pepper, and chili paste. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference, balancing heat and sourness.
  4. Thicken the Soup: Prepare a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with a little cold water, then slowly stir it into the simmering soup to thicken the broth evenly.
  5. Add Eggs: Lower the heat to prevent overcooking the eggs. While stirring the soup continuously, carefully drizzle the beaten eggs into the pot to create silky egg ribbons.
  6. Incorporate Tofu and Simmer: Gently add tofu strips to the soup. Let the soup simmer for an additional 2 minutes to heat the tofu through and marry flavors.
  7. Finish and Garnish: Remove from heat and add a drizzle of sesame oil for authentic aroma. Sprinkle sliced green onions on top as a fresh, bright garnish before serving.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  • To make this gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
  • Adjust chili paste quantity to control the heat level according to your taste preference.
  • Use silken tofu for a softer texture or firm tofu if you prefer more bite.
  • If black vinegar is unavailable, rice vinegar provides a milder but still tangy alternative.
  • Ensure continuous stirring when adding eggs to create delicate egg ribbons rather than clumps.

Keywords: Hot and Sour Soup, Chinese Soup, Authentic Chinese Recipe, Comfort Food, Spicy Soup, Tofu Soup

Find it online: https://zarameals.com/authentic-chinese-hot-and-sour-soup-recipe-for-cozy-comfort-recipe/