Hot and Sour Soup Recipe to Warm Your Spirit

Steaming bowls of hot and sour soup create magic in kitchens everywhere.

Flavors dance with a perfect balance of tangy and spicy notes.

Ancient chinese culinary traditions inspire this delightful dish.

Vibrant ingredients like bamboo shoots and tofu bring incredible depth to each spoonful.

Proteins intermingle with aromatic vegetables, creating a complex taste profile.

Mushrooms add an earthy undertone that complements the sharp vinegar base.

Comfort arrives in liquid form, promising warmth and satisfaction with every sip.

You’ll want to savor this soul-warming experience right away.

Reasons to Love a Bowl of Hot and Sour Soup

• This hot and sour soup delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just minutes, perfect for busy home cooks craving a speedy meal solution.
• The recipe allows flexible ingredient swaps, letting you adapt based on what's in your pantry or dietary preferences without compromising taste.
• Packed with bold, tangy flavors and warming spices, this soup provides instant comfort during cold days, boosting both mood and immune system.
• Using affordable, common ingredients like chicken broth and basic seasonings, this recipe offers a gourmet-tasting dish without expensive specialty products.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Hot and Sour Soup

• Chicken Broth: The foundation of the soup, providing rich and savory flavor.
• Soy Sauce: Adds depth and umami taste with a salty profile.
• White Pepper: Provides a subtle, warming heat and earthy undertone.
• Sugar: Balances the tangy and spicy elements with a touch of sweetness.

• Vinegar: Creates the signature sour taste that defines the soup's character.
• Chili Garlic Sauce: Brings a spicy kick and complex garlic flavor.
• Sesame Oil: Contributes a nutty, aromatic finish to the soup base.

Cooking Directions for Bold Hot and Sour Soup

Step 1: Prepare Flavor Base

• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Chili garlic sauce
• Sesame oil
• White pepper
• Granulated sugar

Stir these ingredients thoroughly to blend the complex flavor profile.

Step 2: Slice Protein and Vegetables

• Pork tenderloin or chicken breast
• Shiitake mushrooms
• Green onions
• Tofu

Step 3: Create Protein Texture

Heat a separate skillet with a touch of vegetable oil. Quickly sauté the meat strips until they turn golden and develop a slight crisp exterior, ensuring they remain tender inside.

Step 4: Combine Ingredients

Gently transfer the sautéed meat into the simmering broth. Add sliced mushrooms and tofu, allowing them to absorb the rich, tangy liquid.

Step 5: Thicken Soup

Whisk cornstarch with cold water to create a smooth slurry. Slowly pour this mixture into the soup, stirring continuously to prevent clumping and create a silky texture.

Step 6: Add Finishing Touches

Crack eggs into the soup, creating delicate ribbons by stirring in a circular motion. Sprinkle chopped green onions on top for a fresh, bright garnish.

Step 7: Final Seasoning

Taste the soup and adjust seasonings as needed. Add extra vinegar for tartness or chili sauce for heat.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Ladle the hot soup into deep bowls. Serve immediately while steaming hot, offering additional chili sauce or vinegar on the side for personal customization.

Tips for Balancing Spice and Tang in Hot and Sour Soup

• Select Fresh Ingredients: Choose high-quality chicken broth, crisp vegetables, and authentic Asian vinegars for the most vibrant flavor profile.
• Balance Sourness Carefully: Adjust vinegar and chili garlic sauce gradually, tasting as you go to achieve the perfect tangy-spicy harmony without overwhelming the soup.
• Control Heat Levels: Modify white pepper and chili garlic sauce quantities to match your personal spice tolerance, ensuring comfort while maintaining the soup's signature warmth.
• Master Broth Depth: Simmer ingredients slowly to develop rich, complex flavors that penetrate every spoonful of the hot and sour soup.
• Customize Dietary Needs: Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version, or use gluten-free soy sauce to accommodate different dietary restrictions.

Proper Ways to Store and Reheat Hot and Sour Soup

• Store leftover soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion, and freeze for maximum 2 months. Frozen soup maintains best quality when sealed tightly.
• Warm soup over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of chicken broth if soup seems too thick after refrigeration.
• Transfer soup to microwave-safe bowl, heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until soup reaches steaming temperature throughout.

Dishes That Pair Well with Hot and Sour Soup

• Pair this hot and sour soup with a crisp, light Sauvignon Blanc that cuts through the soup's richness and complements its tangy profile.
• Serve alongside crispy pork spring rolls or vegetable tempura to add crunch and contrast to the soup's silky texture.
• Match with steamed white rice to absorb the soup's intense flavors and provide a neutral, cooling counterpoint to the spicy and sour notes.
• Enhance the dining experience with a small side of pickled vegetables, which will echo the soup's vinegary undertones and add a refreshing element to the meal.

Hot and Sour Soup Twists You Can Try

• Vegetarian Silk Road Soup: Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth, add tofu cubes for protein, and use mushroom varieties like shiitake for deep umami flavor.
• Gluten-Free Asian Comfort: Swap traditional soy sauce with tamari, use gluten-free chili sauce, and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free for sensitive diets.
• Low-Sodium Wellness Bowl: Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth, minimize soy sauce, and boost flavor with fresh ginger, garlic, and herbs instead of salt.
• Keto-Friendly Spicy Broth: Remove sugar, add extra chili garlic sauce, incorporate zucchini noodles instead of traditional noodles, and increase protein with shredded chicken or egg ribbons.

Common Questions About Hot and Sour Soup

• What ingredients give Hot and Sour Soup its distinctive flavor?

The combination of rice vinegar provides sourness, while chili garlic sauce and white pepper create heat. Soy sauce adds depth and umami, making the soup’s flavor complex and bold.

• Is Hot and Sour Soup considered a healthy dish?

Yes, the soup is relatively low in calories and packed with protein. It contains beneficial ingredients like chicken broth and can be customized with additional vegetables for extra nutrition.

• Can I make this soup vegetarian?

Absolutely! Simply replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and add tofu for protein. The core seasonings remain the same, ensuring you’ll still get the signature tangy and spicy flavor profile.

• How spicy is this soup typically?

The heat level is moderate and can be easily adjusted. Using less chili garlic sauce reduces spiciness, while adding more increases the kick. Most versions offer a pleasant warmth without being overwhelmingly hot.

Hot And Sour Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Comforting Chinese hot and sour soup delivers a perfect balance of spicy and tangy flavors that dance across your palate. Hearty ingredients and quick preparation make this classic dish a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein and Vegetables:

• 1 cup shiitake or button mushrooms (sliced)
• ½ cup bamboo shoots (thinly sliced)
• ½ cup firm tofu (cut into thin strips)
• 1 egg (lightly beaten, for egg ribbons)

Broth and Seasonings:

• 6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (or Sriracha, adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon white pepper (for authentic heat!)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (balances flavors, optional)

Thickening Agent and Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch + ¼ cup water (for thickening slurry)
• 2 green onions (chopped, for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Heat chicken broth in a spacious pot over medium temperature, allowing it to gently simmer and develop a rich, aromatic base.
2. Incorporate soy sauce, vinegar, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and sugar into the simmering broth, whisking thoroughly to create a harmonious, complex flavor profile.
3. Carefully blend the seasonings until they are completely integrated, ensuring a balanced and nuanced taste throughout the liquid.
4. Allow the mixture to continue simmering, letting the ingredients meld together and intensify the soup’s overall depth and character.

Notes

• Choose low-sodium chicken broth to control salt content and create a healthier version of the soup.
• Adjust the chili garlic sauce based on your spice tolerance, adding gradually to reach your preferred heat level.
• Experiment with protein alternatives like tofu or mushrooms for a vegetarian twist on the classic recipe.
• Use rice vinegar for a more authentic flavor profile, which adds subtle sweetness and tangy complexity to the soup.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 120
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg