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Quick Restaurant-Style Hot and Sour Soup Recipe

A close-up of a steaming bowl of hot and sour soup recipe, garnished with fresh green onions and mushrooms.
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Make this authentic Chinese hot and sour soup at home. It delivers the classic tangy and spicy takeout flavor quickly, ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

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  • 6 cups Chicken Broth (or Vegetable Broth for vegetarian)
  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh Shiitake Mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup sliced wood ear mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup sliced bamboo shoots, drained
  • 4 ounces firm tofu, cut into small matchsticks
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce (for color)
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar (or more, to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (adjust for spice level)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons cold water (slurry)
  • 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken (optional, omit for vegetarian)
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pour the chicken broth into a large pot and bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and tofu to the simmering broth. Cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper, and black pepper. If using chicken, add it now.
  4. Bring the soup back to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat slightly.
  5. Slowly drizzle in the rice vinegar and chili garlic sauce. Taste the broth and add more vinegar or chili sauce as needed to achieve your desired tang and spice.
  6. Slowly pour the beaten eggs into the soup in a thin stream while stirring the soup gently in one direction to create ribbons. Cook for 1 minute until the egg sets.
  7. Whisk the cornstarch slurry again and slowly pour it into the soup while stirring constantly until the broth thickens to your liking. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
  8. Stir in the sesame oil just before serving.
  9. Ladle the hot and sour soup into bowls. Garnish with sliced green onions.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian hot and sour soup, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth and omit the chicken.
  • To increase the heat, add a few dashes of hot sauce or increase the chili garlic sauce amount.
  • For a richer flavor, use dried shiitake mushrooms and soak them in hot water first; use the soaking liquid as part of your broth base.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/hot-and-sour-soup-recipe/