Hot and Sour Soup

Hot and Sour Soup

15 min
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons corn starch + 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 can (14.5 oz. /411 g) chicken broth (preferred) or vegetable broth
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 8 oz. (226 g) soft tofu, cut into strips
  • 6 oz. (170 g) white button mushroom, stems trimmed and caps quartered
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons Chinese vinegar, apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce for coloring purpose
  • 3 dashes ground white pepper or black pepper
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon chili oil, optional
  • 1 tablespoon chopped scallion, optional

Directions

  1. 1

    Add the corn starch and water together, stir to combine well. Set aside.

  2. 2

    Add the chicken or vegetable broth and water to a medium-sized soup pot on medium heat. Bring it to boil. Add the tofu and white button mushrooms, cook for 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce, vinegar, dark soy sauce, and black pepper. Stir to combine well. Add in the cornstarch mixture, stir continuously to thicken the soup. Turn off the heat.

  3. 3

    Swirl the beaten eggs into the soup, count to 10, and then use a pair of chopsticks to stir in a clockwise direction, for 3 times. This will form the silken egg threads in the soup that look very pretty. Add the chili oil and chopped scallions, if using.

  4. 4

    Dish out and serve immediately.