Hot and Sour Soup: An Easy Traditional Chinese Soup

Hot and sour soup is a dish that is traditional in Asia, and there are different variations of the soup in each country. The ingredients used depend on the availability of ingredients in the various locations, and the culinary traditions in each destination. However, the common link between all the soups, regardless of the location, is that the soup combines hot flavours with sour flavours. Here we are focusing on a Chinese soup.

Other than the hot and sour flavours, the soups can differ significantly. For example, the Japanese variation of the hot and sour soup uses noodles, while the Pakistani variation has chicken cabbage, carrots, and eggs. Similarly, the Cambodian variety is like a highly-flavoured shrimp stew, and the Vietnamese make this soup using shrimp, fruit, and vegetables.

There are also variations of this soup from outside Asia, such as the version from the United States. In the American version, the ingredients are based on American Chinese culinary traditions, where Chinese soups are an integral part of the cuisine. The ingredients include mushrooms, bamboo shoots, eggs, and various other ingredients to add the hot and sour flavours, says Wikipedia.

The recipe we are using here is a traditional Chinese hot and sour soup. Therefore, it is a meat-based dish that contains both pork meat and chicken stock. Mushrooms are also one of the main ingredients in this Chinese soup.

Here is how to make a delicious hot and sour soup.

Ingredients for Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

Ingredients for the Pork Marinade:

• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dry sherry
• 4 tbsp cornflour or potato flour
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp sesame oil

Ingredients for the Broth:

• 7 oz./ 200g lean pork cut into small, thin strips
• 2 oz./ 50g dried Chinese mushrooms
• 3 spring onions, finely sliced
• 4 tbsp sweet rice vinegar
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 4 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 litres chicken stock
• 2 tbsp chilli oil
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
• 1 red chilli, finely sliced, for garnish
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

How to Make Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

1. Put the dried Chinese mushrooms in a bowl, and cover in water. Leave the mushrooms to soak for 30 minutes.
2. In a separate bowl, make a marinade by mixing together the soy sauce, sherry, flour, water, sesame oil, sugar, and a little salt.
3. Cut the pork into small, thin strips, and add to the marinade. Stir the pork and marinade together, so the marinade thoroughly coats the meat.
4. Leave the pork to marinate for 20 minutes.
5. Drain the mushrooms after soaking, then slice into thin strips.
6. Add the chicken stock to a large pan and bring to the boil on the hob.
7. Then, add the mushrooms and the pork strips with their marinade to the pan.
8. Cook for a few minutes, then turn off the heat.
9. Pour the beaten eggs into the soup over a fork. Using a four will separate the egg into strands.
10. Leave the pan turned off for a few minutes, as this will allow the egg strands to set in the soup.
11. Add the freshly ground black pepper, vinegar, and sesame oil.
12. Add most of the chopped coriander, retaining a little for the garnish.
13. Stir the ingredients in the pan together.
14. Set out four soup bowls and add some spring onions and a little chilli oil to each.
15. Ladle the hot and sour soup over the spring onions and chilli oil.
16. Garnish each dish with a little chopped coriander and a couple of slices of the thinly sliced red chilli.

Additional Tips for Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

• You can swap the pork for thin strips of beef.
• Taste the broth before serving, and add a little more salt, black pepper, or soy sauce to suit your tastes.
• If you like soups with chicken, then you might also like our easy soup recipe for cock-a-leekie soup and Polish rosol soup.
• Similarly, if you enjoy soups with a little heat, then give our prawn laksa, sweet potato and chilli soup or our Thai coconut and vegetable soup recipes a go.
• If you make this hot and sour soup recipe, let us know what you think below.