Description
If you’re looking for a bold, comforting, and easy recipe, this Classic Hot and Sour Soup is exactly what your kitchen needs. A beloved favorite in Chinese cuisine, it features the perfect balance of savory, spicy, and tangy flavors. Loaded with mushrooms, tofu, carrots, peas, and a hint of chili, this soup is hearty, warming, and ready in under 30 minutes. Whether you’re searching for quick dinner ideas, a healthy snack, or new soup recipes for cold nights, this hot and sour soup delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup water
1 cup shiitake or wood ear mushrooms, sliced thin
1/2 cup firm tofu, cubed
1/2 cup bamboo shoots, julienned
1/3 cup diced carrots
1/4 cup green peas
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
1 egg, lightly beaten
Salt and white pepper to taste
1 green onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
1. In a large pot, combine chicken or vegetable broth with water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
2. Add sliced mushrooms, bamboo shoots, carrots, peas, and tofu. Simmer for 5–7 minutes until vegetables are tender.
3. Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, and sesame oil. Adjust seasoning with salt and white pepper.
4. Mix cornstarch and cold water in a bowl, then pour slurry into soup while stirring. Let cook 1–2 minutes until thickened.
5. Lower the heat. Stir soup in one direction and slowly drizzle in beaten egg to form silky ribbons.
6. Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
Notes
1. Add vinegar only at the end to preserve its sharp, tangy brightness.
2. To make it gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure all sauces are certified gluten-free.
3. Use firm tofu to prevent it from falling apart during cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: easy recipe, healthy soup, spicy soup, Chinese soup, vegetarian soup