Description
Craving something spicy, tangy, and incredibly satisfying? This Chinese Style Hot and Sour Soup hits all the right notes. It’s a quick dinner solution, perfect for chilly evenings or as a comforting, healthy snack when you’re under the weather. Made with tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and silky egg ribbons, it’s one of those classic easy recipes that feels like a restaurant-quality meal at home. Ideal for fans of Asian food ideas, easy dinners, and healthy soup recipes, this dish comes together in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low sodium preferred)
1 cup water
1/2 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms (fresh or rehydrated dried)
1/2 cup bamboo shoots, thinly sliced
1/2 cup firm tofu, cut into thin strips
1 medium carrot, julienned
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or black vinegar for more authenticity)
1 teaspoon white pepper (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon chili oil or crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
Salt to taste
Instructions
1. In a large soup pot, bring the chicken or vegetable broth and water to a gentle boil over medium heat.
2. Add sliced mushrooms, bamboo shoots, carrots, and tofu. Let simmer for 5–7 minutes until tender.
3. Stir in soy sauce, vinegar, white pepper, and optional chili oil. Simmer for another 2–3 minutes.
4. Add the cornstarch slurry slowly while stirring to thicken the soup.
5. Reduce heat to low, stir soup in a circular motion, and drizzle in beaten eggs to form ribbons.
6. Turn off the heat, add sesame oil (optional), and garnish with chopped green onions. Serve hot.
Notes
For a more authentic flavor, use Chinese black vinegar instead of rice vinegar.
Stir constantly when adding cornstarch slurry to avoid lumps.
To get perfect egg ribbons, lower the heat and pour eggs slowly while stirring gently.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 70mg